On Sunday, 25 October 2026, the new Western Sydney International airport opened in Badgerys Creek. The project cost A$5,6 billion.
The airport is located approximately 60 km west of the city centre. It will operate around the clock, allowing airlines to serve Sydney's growing and ethnically diverse western region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the opening an important milestone for the country's most populous city. "For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport. This is an achievement that has been worked on for decades," he said.
The existing Sydney airport (Kingsford Smith) is subject to a curfew: takeoffs and landings are permitted only until 23:00 and after 6:00. The new airport removes these restrictions.
The first passenger flight was operated by the budget airline Jetstar — to the Gold Coast. Cargo flights here already began in July.
The site covers 1780 hectares. The land was purchased by the federal government back in the 1980s. Construction was completed in July 2025 after seven years of work and 15 years of planning.
The airport's capacity exceeds 80 million passenger movements per year. How will this affect competition with Sydney's main airport and ticket prices?
The opening was the result of many years of effort and now gives airlines more flexibility in scheduling, especially for Asian and Middle Eastern routes.
