Sydney’s new international airport opens to passengers

Sydney's brand new international airport commenced passenger services on Sunday (Oct 25), following a decade-long planning period, marking a significant milestone for the nation's most populous city. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport in Badgerys Creek, approximately 60 km west of Sydney's central business district, as a historic event for Australia.

The new facility, situated on a 1,780-hectare 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 Sydney airport. Prime Minister Albanese noted, "For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport. It's a milestone that has been decades in the making."

Qantas' budget subsidiary, Jetstar, was slated to launch the inaugural outbound flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday. The airport boasts the capacity to handle more than 80 million passenger movements annually. The airport's construction, spanning seven years, concluded in July 2025 after 15 years of meticulous planning.