Sydney opens USD 3.94b western airport to passengers

Dhaka: Australia has opened a new international airport in western Sydney, marking a major expansion of the country’s aviation infrastructure after more than a decade of planning and construction.

Western Sydney International Airport, located in Badgerys Creek about 37 miles west of central Sydney, began passenger operations on October 25. The AD 5.6 billion project is designed to serve the region’s growing population and provide airlines with greater scheduling flexibility.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opening as a significant milestone for Sydney and Australia, noting that the country had not opened a major new airport in more than 50 years.

Unlike Sydney’s existing airport, which operates under overnight restrictions, the new facility is designed to run around the clock. The change could create more options for airlines and passengers while supporting travel demand across western Sydney.

Jetstar, the budget airline owned by Qantas, was scheduled to operate the airport’s first departing passenger flight, bound for the Gold Coast.

According to airport officials, the facility has the capacity to handle more than 80 million passenger movements annually.

Cargo operations began at the airport in July, while construction was completed in July 2025 following a seven-year building period. The federal government acquired the 1,780-hectare site in the 1980s.