Sydney's New Western Sydney Airport to Open in October After Decade of Planning
Australia's first major new airport in over 50 years, the A$5.6 billion Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek, will open to passengers on October 25, 2026. Unlike Sydney's existing airport, which operates under a strict night curfew, the new facility will run 24 hours a day, enabling red-eye flights and late-night international departures. The opening adds significant capacity and scheduling flexibility to Australia's largest city, with up to 10 million passengers expected annually in its initial phase.
Western Sydney International Airport, located in Badgerys Creek approximately 60 km west of Sydney's CBD, will welcome its first passengers on October 25, 2026, after more than a decade of planning and at a cost of A$5.6 billion. The airport addresses a longstanding constraint at Sydney's existing Kingsford Smith Airport, which is barred from operating between 11pm and 6am due to noise regulations — a restriction not faced by other major Australian cities such as Melbourne. Jetstar will operate the inaugural flight to the Gold Coast and plans services to Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Brisbane from late October, while parent carrier Qantas will begin regional flights to Melbourne and Brisbane from March 2027 using Embraer E190 aircraft operated by Alliance Airlines. Internationally, Air New Zealand will launch Auckland services on October 26, and Singapore Airlines will begin daily flights to Singapore on November 23, with the departure timed just before midnight to exploit the absence of a curfew. The terminal features biometric automated passport control gates, and Qantas will also use the site as a freight hub beginning next month. The airport is expected to handle up to 10 million passengers per year initially — roughly a quarter of the throughput at the existing Sydney Airport — and anchors an A$18 billion federal government investment in the Western Sydney region that also includes a future metro rail link and road upgrades.
What's missing
No details are provided across sources about when the Sydney Metro Airport rail connection is expected to be operational, which is a significant factor for passenger accessibility given the airport's distance from the CBD. Additionally, no information is given on ground transport options available at opening.
What different sources said
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
‘Snozzle’ at the ready: State-of-the-art fire station set for Sydney’s new airport
- South China Morning PostCenter
Inside Australia’s first major new airport in more than 50 years
- Channel NewsAsiaCenter
Sydney's new international airport to welcome first passengers in October
- AeroRoutesCenter
Qantas Group Begins Western Sydney Service in 4Q26
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