Sydney gains a second passenger airport
Western Sydney International Airport opened to passengers on Sunday, completing a project whose planning stretches back about 40 years. The A$5.3 billion airport at Badgerys Creek sits more than 60 kilometres from central Sydney and is designed to serve the fast-growing western part of the metropolitan region.
Jetstar was scheduled to operate the first commercial passenger flight, a service to the Gold Coast. The opening begins a gradual expansion rather than an immediate full international schedule. Air New Zealand plans three weekly Auckland flights from October 26, while Singapore Airlines says it will begin daily services from Changi in November 2026. Other announced international routes start later.
The airport is intended to complement Sydney Kingsford Smith, which is constrained by an hourly movement cap and an overnight curfew. Western Sydney International is approved to operate 24 hours a day. The federal government says more than 2.5 million people will regard it as their local airport, and planners also expect it to absorb substantial freight activity.
From November 1, freight flights previously permitted to use Kingsford Smith during its curfew are expected to shift to the new airport. Longer-term plans envisage capacity for as much as 1.8 million tonnes of air cargo annually, although the initial diverted volume has not been specified.
Transport connections still developing
Ground access remains a major part of the opening story. A high-speed metro connection to St Marys station was originally due to open with the airport but is now not expected until at least December 2027. In the interim, a free shuttle bus will connect the terminal and St Marys every 30 minutes. A paid shuttle will serve Parramatta and Central, and five local bus routes link surrounding communities to the airport.
Drivers can use the new toll-free M12 motorway, though trips from central Sydney or transfers to Kingsford Smith may involve toll roads. FlixBus also announced a twice-daily Canberra connection. The incomplete rail link means journey cost and convenience will vary significantly according to a passenger's starting point.
The airport emerged from decades of debate. The federal government began acquiring land in 1986, confirmed Badgerys Creek as the site in 2014 and started construction in 2018. Community opposition has accompanied the proposal since its early years, particularly over noise and land impacts.
Its first day therefore marks both an operational milestone and the start of a longer build-out. Airlines, freight operators and transport projects will determine how quickly the new airport develops into the intended second gateway for Greater Sydney.
