Sydney’s second airport will soon be up and running. How different will it be to Melbourne’s Avalon?
News Source
•Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:22 GMT
📰 What Happened
Western Sydney International Airport begins commercial flights on Sunday, when the first passengers leave from its new terminal. Seven airlines are already signed up, including Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways. The airport is about 60km from central Sydney.
The airport can run 24 hours a day. Sydney's main airport, Kingsford Smith, has an 11pm to 6am curfew and a cap of 80 takeoffs and landings an hour. The federal government says the new site can handle up to 10 million passengers a year.
🔍 The Backstory
Melbourne's Avalon opened to passenger flights more than 20 years ago. It was built in 1952 as a military airfield. It started with only Jetstar and still handles just 55 to 60 commercial flights a week, with room for about 1.2 million passengers a year.
Avalon's chief executive, Ari Suss, says the two airports are not really comparable. Sydney's new airport has more room to grow because Kingsford Smith is tightly capped. A train line to the western Sydney airport is not due until 2027 or 2028.
🎯 Why It Matters
Sydney's main airport is full and capped. A second airport should mean more flights, more choice and maybe cheaper fares for travellers.
Western Sydney International Airport begins commercial flights on Sunday, when the first passengers leave from its new terminal. Seven airlines are already signed up, including Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways. The airport is about 60km from central Sydney.
The airport can run 24 hours a day. Sydney's main airport, Kingsford Smith, has an 11pm to 6am curfew and a cap of 80 takeoffs and landings an hour. The federal government says the new site can handle up to 10 million passengers a year.
Melbourne's Avalon opened to passenger flights more than 20 years ago. It was built in 1952 as a military airfield. It started with only Jetstar and still handles just 55 to 60 commercial flights a week, with room for about 1.2 million passengers a year.
Avalon's chief executive, Ari Suss, says the two airports are not really comparable. Sydney's new airport has more room to grow because Kingsford Smith is tightly capped. A train line to the western Sydney airport is not due until 2027 or 2028.
Sydney's main airport is full and capped. A second airport should mean more flights, more choice and maybe cheaper fares for travellers.