Sydney's new airport opens to passengers and runs around the clock

What happened. Western Sydney International at Badgerys Creek, in Sydney's west, took its first passengers on Sunday, 25 October. The first commercial flight was Jetstar to the Gold Coast, scheduled for 11am local time. news.com.au says it took off around 11:20am. Cargo flights have run there since July.

Cost and size. Reuters puts the project at A$5.6 billion. It took seven years to build after 15 years of planning. Australia's government says the airport will first serve up to 10 million passengers a year, with room to grow. The airport itself, quoted by Reuters, says it has capacity for more than 80 million passenger movements a year.

The key difference. The old Kingsford Smith airport has a curfew: takeoffs and landings only from 6am to 11pm. The new one runs around the clock. The government set 1 November 2026 as the date it formally opens for night movements. After that, freight planes lose their current permission to use the old airport overnight, except in emergencies or by special dispensation.

Who flies there. The government says Jetstar runs up to 14 weekly flights to Melbourne, Gold Coast flights and three a week to Brisbane from launch. Air New Zealand flies to Auckland from 26 October, Singapore Airlines daily to Singapore from 23 November, and Qantas starts on 28 March 2027. news.com.au also lists Fiji Airways, Vietjet and Qatar Airways.

For the economy. The airport is the centrepiece of a near A$18 billion government investment in Western Sydney, including a future metro line. The government says the project created more than 12,800 jobs. A Swinburne University aviation expert told news.com.au that at first there will be fewer airlines, flights and destinations than at the old airport.

Confirmed facts

• Western Sydney International opened to passengers on 25 October 2026, with a Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast first.^[2][3]
• Reuters puts the airport's cost at A$5.6 billion (about $3.94 billion).^[2]
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it Australia's first major new airport in more than 50 years.^[2]
• Sydney's existing airport allows takeoffs and landings only between 6am and 11pm; the new one operates 24 hours.^[2]
• The airport will first serve up to 10 million passengers a year, with scalable expansion.^[1]
• The airport, quoted by Reuters, says it has capacity for more than 80 million passenger movements a year.^[2]
• 1 November 2026 is the intended date for the airport to open for night movements, ending currently permitted overnight freight flights at Kingsford Smith, with exceptions.^[1]
• Air New Zealand starts Auckland flights on 26 October, Singapore Airlines daily Singapore flights on 23 November 2026, and Qantas on 28 March 2027.^[1]
• The government says the project created more than 12,800 jobs and is part of a near A$18 billion investment in Western Sydney.^[1]
• Cargo flights began in July; the build took seven years after 15 years of planning.^[2]

Implications

• ConfirmedAirlines in Sydney now have night slots that the old airport did not offer.
• Our readingMore competition may over time bring travellers more flights and choice.
• Our readingAt first there will be fewer flights and destinations than at the old airport.

Still unknown

• How fast new airlines and routes will arrive.
• Whether the opening will affect fares: the sources do not say.
• When the metro line to the airport opens.

Who it affects

Global, Australia. Travellers, airlines and anyone following Australia's economy

Sources

1. Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Australia: It's official: Western Sydney to open to passengers on 25 October and freight on 26 July 2026 June 10, 2026 · official
2. Reuters: Sydney's new international airport opens to passengers October 25, 2026 · media
3. news.com.au: Western Sydney International airport officially opens with inaugural Jetstar passenger flight taking off October 24, 2026 · media