Sydney: Sydney’s new A$5.6 billion ($3.94 billion) Western Sydney International Airport opened to passengers on Sunday, marking a major milestone for Australia’s most populous city after more than a decade of planning.
Located at Badgerys Creek, about 60 kilometres west of central Sydney, the airport will operate 24 hours a day. The facility is intended to improve access to air travel for western Sydney’s growing population and provide airlines with greater scheduling flexibility.
Australia’s existing Sydney Airport restricts takeoffs and landings during overnight hours, generally allowing operations between 6 am and 11 pm The new airport’s round-the-clock operations could offer airlines more flexibility in scheduling domestic and international services.
Today, Western Sydney takes off. We’ll see you soon. ✈🫶
#WSIAirport #FlyGreaterWSI https://t.co/sYsD6GKCS3
— Western Sydney International Airport (@WSIAirport_) October 24, 2026
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opening as a historic achievement, noting that Australia was welcoming a major new airport for the first time in more than 50 years. The project involved 15 years of planning and seven years of construction, with the airport completed in July 2025.
Budget carrier Jetstar, part of Qantas, operated the first scheduled passenger departure, with a flight to the Gold Coast. Cargo operations began at the facility in July, ahead of the launch of passenger services. Air New Zealand is scheduled to begin flights to Auckland on October 26, while Singapore Airlines plans to launch daily services to Singapore on November 23.
The airport occupies a 1,780-hectare site acquired by the federal government in the 1980s. Designed for long-term expansion, the facility is expected to support growing passenger demand and strengthen transport connections across western Sydney, with capacity to expand significantly as additional infrastructure and airline services are introduced.
IMPORTANT | Greece passes law to restrict children’s social media use
