Western Sydney airport opens, with Singapore and Vietnam flights to follow
Sydney's A$5.6 billion second airport took its first passenger flights on Sunday, and Asian carriers are among seven airlines signed up.
Sydney's new A$5.6 billion Western Sydney International Airport opened to passengers on Sunday. SBS News reported that Singapore Airlines and Vietjet Air are among the seven passenger carriers committed to flying there, along with Qantas, Jetstar, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways.
ABC News reported that flights to Singapore are scheduled to start soon, with Nadi in Fiji, Ho Chi Minh City and Doha to follow. Air New Zealand services to and from Auckland on Monday morning were the airport's first international departure and arrivals.
The first commercial flight, a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast, left just before noon on Sunday, SBS reported. The airport is officially named Nancy-Bird Walton Airport after the Australian aviator. Western Sydney resident Inian, who flew with his partner and baby son Jonah, told SBS it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
The new airport will run 24 hours a day. Sydney's existing Kingsford Smith airport has an 11pm to 6am curfew. Reuters, in a report carried by The Straits Times, said round-the-clock operation gives airlines access to a fast-growing and ethnically diverse population. "For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Opposition leader Angus Taylor, whose electorate includes the site, called it "a great achievement for this country".
The outlets gave differing details. Reuters put the airport at Badgerys Creek, about 60km west of central Sydney, with capacity for more than 80 million passenger movements a year. SBS said it is at Luddenham near Badgerys Creek, about 45km from the CBD, and can handle up to 10 million passengers a year, with 80 million an eventual goal. Reuters cited 15 years of planning and a seven-year build finished in July 2025, while SBS spoke of eight decades of planning. Cargo flights began in July, Reuters said.
Not every arrival went to plan. ABC News reported that Swedish traveller Julie Lundmark flew to Melbourne from Sydney Airport for the weekend, only to find her return Jetstar flight, JQ373, landed at the new airport. Her car was parked at the old one. "We landed here and looked out of the window and had no idea where we were," she told 702 ABC Sydney.
A man who got off Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland told the ABC he had thought he was travelling to Western Australia. "I'm meant to be in Perth, but look, it's still pretty fun," he said.
Rail access is not yet in place. Passengers can take a free shuttle bus to St Marys station, or use coaches, public buses, taxis, rideshare or private cars. Penrith mayor Todd Carney said governments would need to invest significantly in roads and other infrastructure. The Sydney Metro line linking the airport to St Marys is under construction and expected to open next year, SBS reported.
Sources: The Straits Times, Sydney’s new international airport opens to passengers; SBS News, 'Historic day for Western Sydney' as new airport takes flight; ABC News, 'Meant to be in Perth': Passengers confused by Sydney's new airport.
