Sydney’s new international airport opens to passengers

Sydney's new Western Sydney International Airport officially welcomed its first passengers on Sunday, marking a significant milestone for the country's most populous city. The $3.94 billion airport, located 60 km (37.3 miles) west of central Sydney in Badgerys Creek, began operations after more than a decade of planning and a seven-year construction period.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the opening as a historic moment for Australia, stating that it comes after decades of effort to build a major new airport in the region. The new facility, situated on a 1,780-hectare (4,398-acre) site purchased by the federal government in the 1980s, will operate 24 hours a day, providing airlines with greater scheduling flexibility compared to the existing airport in Sydney's central business district.

Current airport limitations

The current Sydney airport, located closer to the city's central business district, can only accommodate takeoffs and landings until 11 p.m. and after 6 a.m. This restriction on operations has limited airline scheduling options when compared to other major Australian cities like Melbourne.

First passenger flights

Qantas' budget airline, Jetstar, was set to operate the first outbound flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday, with the airport indicating its capacity to handle over 80 million passenger movements annually. Cargo flights had already commenced at the facility in July.