They're just like us! Matt Damon ditches the private jet and joins locals on a commercial flight from Sydney to Ballina with wife Luciana Barroso

He may be one of Hollywood's biggest names, but Matt Damon was happy to ride with the cattle classes during his visit to Australia on Monday.  

The 53-year-old was accompanied by his wife, Luciana Barroso, 49, as the pair boarded a commercial Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Ballina. 

Eschewing a private jet, the A-lister shunned the usual celebrity fanfare, checking in, queueing to board and disembarking like every other passenger with no VIP treatment in sight.

Matt and Luciana were also accompanied by friends, including Aussie businessman and AVMIN founder Paul O'Brien, who ironically made his fortune in private jets. 

The group were headed to the beachside town of Ballina, NSW, which is located a short drive from Byron Bay, where Matt's good friend Chris Hemsworth lives in a sprawling mansion, and where Matt and his family have spent many summers. 

The Martian actor dressed down for the short flight, wearing a blue, checked flannel shirt along with classic blue jeans. 

Matt popped on a pair of designer sunglasses and carried a black backpack over one arm. 

He finished the look with white sneakers, and was seen wheeling along his own luggage without the assistance of minders. 

Luciana also opted for a casual look, sporting a fitted white top with matching trousers. 

She added a touch of luxury with a black leather Chanel bag and finished the outfit with a pair of simple flip flops. 

For accessories, the Argentinian-born star wore a dangling silver necklace and a number of rings. 

She had earlier arrived in a black cardigan, which she stripped off in the terminal, likely due to the warm weather in the region. 

Luciana appeared to have on minimal makeup and wore he brunette bob in soft waves around her face. 

After landing, the group traversed the tarmac with their luggage in tow, again without the aid of minders.  

Damon has a strong connection to Australia, where he has spent extended periods with his family and formed close friendships.

The actor regularly stays in Byron Bay, where his long-time friend Chris Hemsworth is based, and is routinely seen on holidays with Chris and his wife Elsa Pataky. 

Damon has also been a familiar face at local events, including AFL matches and Derby Day, a horse racing event, in Melbourne.

The star has been busy on this latest visit Down Under, and brought a dose of A-list glamour to Sydney's biggest race day over the weekend. 

Damon stepped out at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse for the 70th TAB Golden Slipper on Saturday.

The Good Will Hunting and Bourne franchise star cut a sharp figure on arrival, dressed in a tailored suit with a yellow tie and dark sunglasses as he made his way into the track before being escorted to a private dining area.

Damon quickly became one of the standout names among a packed crowd, with thousands flocking to Rosehill for the prestigious meeting. 

Matt often travels around the country during his visits and previously revealed the love he has for Queensland, and in particular iconic Brisbane agricultural festival The Ekka.

'I've been a few years in a row to The Ekka,' Matt admitted in a recent interview. 

'I don't know if I'm gonna make it this year, though, because I have to come back to America.'

The action star added that he's usually the one to jump on the 'terrifying' rides while his wife and four children prefer to watch from the sidelines.

'My kids love it because they force me to go on all those terrifying rides and, you know, their mum refuses to go,' Matt said.

'So I draw the short straw. They like watching me get whipped around on those things.'

The Ekka, formally known as the Royal Queensland Show is Queensland's annual agricultural show and it is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Damon's connection to Australia began during a deeply personal period following the death of his father, Kent Damon, in 2017.

'After my dad died, we moved down there for four months and just went and camped all over the place,' Damon said.

'And just … I think because maybe he had never been, and it just felt like a place to go to make memories with my kids.'

The trips have since become a yearly ritual for Damon, his wife Luciana and their four daughters. 

The family often chooses to spend the American summer in Australia.

'Then every year we would return, even back during the pandemic. We were down there for about six months, and it's just like a second home to us,' he said.

'We just love it and we love the people and everything about it.'

Damon went on to explain: 'We just have so many friends down there, honestly. I mean 30, 40 people. Family, friends, just so many people that we love to go see.'