On 2 August 1982, SkyBus took over the airport bus services run by the now-defunct airlines Ansett and TAA.

[2][3] Until November 2000, the Melbourne city centre terminus was at a coach depot in Franklin Street.

It would pick up passengers at the then Spencer Street station and various city hotels before continuing on to the airport.

The initiative funded the purchase of new buses, and improvements to the Tullamarine Freeway, to give SkyBus vehicles priority in traffic.

[7] Proposals to improve the bus service involving turning emergency lanes into bus lanes on the freeway and the Bolte Bridge and putting SkyBus on a Myki fare, were challenged by CityLink operator Transurban, because it would limit its toll revenue, and by Melbourne Airport, because it would reduce its car parking profits.

In September 2014, SkyBus was purchased by a consortium that included Catalyst Direct Capital Management and OPTrust Private Markets Group.

[12][13] In February 2017, SkyBus took over the route between Southern Cross station and Avalon Airport previously run by Sita Buslines.

[22] Proposals in January 2013 by the Victorian Government to integrate SkyBus ticketing with the Myki system were shelved after opposition from Transurban and Melbourne Airport.

[8] The Frankston shuttle operates between Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport and Frankston railway station, making intermediate stops in St Kilda, Elsternwick, Elwood, Brighton, Moorabbin, Highett, Cheltenham, Parkdale and Chelsea.

The service began in November 2017, operating to similar frequencies and hours as the St Kilda Express.

The service operated daily, including all public holidays, to a 30-minute frequency on weekdays and hourly on weekends.

[25] The Western Express operated between Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport and Werribee, with an intermediate stop at Tarneit railway station.

Services ran along the Northern Busway on the North Shore section of the route, stopping at Smales Farm and Akoranga stations.