Exhibit 8.1


                    [Letterhead of Shearman & Sterling LLP]


                                August 19, 2004



Macquarie Infrastructure Assets Trust
600 Fifth Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10020

Macquarie Infrastructure Assets LLC
600 Fifth Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10020

        Initial Public Offering of Macquarie Infrastructure Assets Trust

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We have acted as counsel to Macquarie Infrastructure Assets Trust
(the "Trust") and Macquarie Infrastructure Assets LLC (the "Company") in
connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
Commission on the date hereof (the "Registration Statement"), of which the
prospectus forms a part (the "Prospectus"). The Registration Statement relates
to the offering of shares representing beneficial interests in the Trust in a
proposed maximum aggregate principal amount of $540,000,000 (the "Shares"). Each
Share of the Trust corresponds to one member interest of the Company held by the
Trust.

            In preparing this opinion, we have examined and relied on such
documents as we have deemed appropriate, including, inter alia, the Prospectus
and the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of all such corporate records of the Trust and the Company and
such other instruments, certificates and other documents of public officials and
such other persons, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have
deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.

            We have reviewed the statements set forth in the Prospectus under
the captions "Prospectus Summary - The Offering - U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations" and "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations," and
hereby advise you that such statements, to the extent they constitute matters of
law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, represent the opinion of Shearman
& Sterling LLP as to United States federal income tax matters.

Macquarie Infrastructure Assets Trust  2                         August 19, 2004
Macquarie Infrastructure Assets LLC


            We express no opinions other than those expressed herein. We hereby
consent to the use of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
and to the use of our name under the heading "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations" in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.


                                                Very truly yours,



                                                /s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP