First international flight takes off from new Sydney airport

On Monday, the first international flight departed from the newly opened Western Sydney International Airport, marking the beginning of a new era for Australia's aviation industry. After decades of planning, the multi-billion-dollar airport offers an alternative to Sydney's main airport, Kingsford Smith, which has served the city for over a century.

Air New Zealand's NZ166, a flight from Auckland, was the inaugural international flight, setting off a three-flights-per-week service to the working-class western suburbs of Sydney.

Air New Zealand's chief operations officer, Kate Boyer, expressed excitement about the opening, emphasizing that Western Sydney, home to over 2.5 million people, is a gateway for Australian visitors to explore the country. The single-runway airport, Australia's first new major aviation hub in over half a century, began domestic flights on Sunday and introduced freight operations in July.

The new airport, located in Botany Bay just nine kilometers from the city center, has no nighttime flight curfew, allowing planes to operate 24 hours. This provides airlines with greater flexibility to connect to global hubs and offers travelers more choices in reaching the world. Qantas' budget carrier, Jetstar, is currently the main domestic airline, flying to the Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Other international carriers are expected to join, including Qatar Airways in December 2027, Fiji Airways in March 2027, and Vietjet Air in January 2027.

With a cost of Aus$5.3 billion (US$3.7 billion), excluding surrounding transport works, the airport is within reach by road but is not anticipated to have a direct rail link until at least December 2027. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the new airport as a "wonderful new chapter" for Australia, stating that it will bring economic benefits and job opportunities to western Sydney, an area often overlooked in favor of the city's renowned harbor and central business district.