Key facts
- The new airport cost A$5.6 billion (US$4 billion).
- It will have half a dozen or fewer scheduled flights per day for the next 12 months.
- Qantas plans to operate little more than one domestic flight a day, on average, from March 2027.
- Virgin Australia Holdings has no flights scheduled.
Sydney's new Western Sydney International Airport has opened after more than 50 years of planning, facing immediate questions about its commercial viability. The A$5.6 billion facility, located 50 kilometers inland, will handle its inaugural passenger flight on Sunday, a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast. However, it has secured only a limited number of airline commitments, with fewer than a dozen scheduled flights per day expected over the next year, according to aviation data firm Cirium. This launch occurs as the global travel industry navigates a challenging post-pandemic period, marked by rising fuel costs and difficulties in acquiring new aircraft. Compounding the airport's challenges, a crucial rail link is not anticipated to be operational until 2027 at the earliest, and a shuttle bus service to the city center is time-consuming and costly. Consequently, Sydney Kingsford Smith, the city's primary airport, remains a more convenient option for most travelers.