Prime Highlights-
- Sydney’s new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek will open to passengers in October, operating 24 hours a day without the curfew restrictions that apply to the existing Sydney airport.
- Jetstar will operate the first flight, with Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines both launching international services from the new facility.
Key Facts-
- The airport cost A$5.6 billion to build and is expected to handle up to 10 million passengers a year initially.
- The project anchors the federal government’s A$18 billion investment in Western Sydney, including a future metro rail connection and road upgrades.
Background-
Sydney’s second international airport will open its doors to passengers in October, ending more than a decade of planning and giving Australia’s largest city its first 24-hour airport.
The Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, located about 60 kilometres west of the city centre, cost A$5.6 billion to build. Unlike Sydney’s existing airport, which cannot handle flights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. due to strict noise regulations, the new facility will run around the clock with no curfew restrictions.
Australian Transport Minister Catherine King called it a big moment for Sydney, noting that passenger flights were now just months away.
Jetstar, the budget arm of Qantas, will operate the first flight out of the new airport, heading to the Gold Coast. The airline plans up to 14 weekly services to Melbourne, four to the Gold Coast, and three to Brisbane. Qantas’ regional arm will add Melbourne and Brisbane routes from the new airport early next year.
On the international side, Air New Zealand will launch Auckland services from the airport, while Singapore Airlines will begin daily flights to Singapore. The Singapore Airlines departure is timed just before midnight, directly taking advantage of the curfew-free operations.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said the airport would also serve as a major freight hub for the airline, with cargo services beginning next month.
The new airport is expected to handle up to 10 million passengers a year initially, roughly a quarter of the volume at Sydney’s existing airport. It sits at the centre of the federal government’s A$18 billion investment in the Western Sydney region, which also covers a future metro rail link to the airport and significant road upgrades. Australia has not built a major new airport in more than 50 years.
