SkyBus has announced two new express services – the Eastern Express and Sunshine Express to the west – as well as announcing an initiative to go fully electric across its Melbourne fleet by 2031.
The Eastern Express service launches on 31 August 2025, with tickets on sale from 8 August 2025. The 7-day-a-week service travels to and from Box Hill Central and Melbourne Airport, stopping at Watsonia and Doncaster.
Customers can buy Eastern Express tickets at the special introductory price of $9.99 one-way, with tickets valid three months from purchase.
The Sunshine Express service commences on 9 November 2025, travelling directly between Sunshine Station and Melbourne Airport.
Both new services are part of SkyBus’ continued operations at Melbourne Airport under a new contract with the Victorian Government through to the end of 2034.
SkyBus also leads the way in sustainable airport transport, committing to a fully electric fleet across its Melbourne services by 2031.
The electrification rollout includes Australia’s first electric double decker buses, with an estimated arrival by mid 2027.
The Sunshine Express begins this zero-emissions transformation, with its service commencing with an all-electric fleet, whilst the Eastern Express transitions to electric in 2026.
This electrification program positions SkyBus at the forefront of clean transport innovation, delivering quieter, greener journeys and a world-class welcome for visitors to Melbourne.
“These new Eastern Express and Sunshine Express services will connect more Melbourne communities directly to the airport, providing a convenient and affordable transport option,” SkyBus parent company Kinetic CEO, Michael Sewards, said.
“Since its humble beginnings as a single-bus airport shuttle service nearly 50 years ago, SkyBus has grown to carry almost 3 million people to and from the airport every year, and these new services will help us serve even more passengers.
“This expansion highlights the key role SkyBus has come to play in Melbourne and celebrates the amazing SkyBus experience which has earned a reputation globally as world class.”
“Throughout SkyBus and the broader Kinetic business we’re growing our electric bus fleet and removing hundreds of thousands of kilograms of CO2 emissions from our atmosphere,” SkyBus general manager, Audrey Speziale, said.
“We look forward to continuing this track record throughout the full electrification of the SkyBus fleet, which is yet another investment in improving the experience customers having aboard SkyBus.”
“SkyBus is an essential part of our transport mix, and these new services will provide much needed improvements to connectivity for our staff and passengers,” Melbourne Airport chief of property, retail, and ground transport, Jai McDermott, said. “We thank the Victorian Government for providing SkyBus with the certainty and SkyBus for committing to these services.
“The airport is growing, and with the recent approval of our third runway we are on track to welcome more than 76 million passengers by 2042, so we need the right transport infrastructure in place to support that growth and SkyBus will play a pivotal role in this.”
SkyBus services currently run express to Melbourne CBD from Melbourne Airport, the Peninsula Express runs from Melbourne Airport to St Kilda, Frankston and other bayside suburbs and the Avalon Express services Melbourne’s Avalon Airport through Werribee. SkyBus also services Hobart International Airport.
