Key facts
- The new airport cost A$5.6 billion ($3.94 billion).
- It is located in Badgerys Creek, 60 km west of central Sydney.
- The airport will operate 24 hours a day.
- Qantas' budget arm Jetstar operated the first outbound flight to the Gold Coast.
- The airport has capacity for over 80 million passenger movements annually.
- The site was purchased by the federal government in the 1980s.
Sydney's new Western Sydney International Airport, a A$5.6 billion ($3.94 billion) project, opened to passengers on Sunday, October 25. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the opening as a milestone for Australia's most populous city. Located in Badgerys Creek, approximately 60 km west of the city center, the airport is designed to operate 24 hours a day, offering expanded scheduling options compared to the current airport's limitations. Cargo flights began in July, following the completion of the airport in July 2025 after a seven-year construction period and 15 years of planning on a site acquired by the federal government in the 1980s. The airport has the capacity for over 80 million passenger movements annually.