Sydney will finally have a second airport – the Western Sydney International Airport is opening on 25 October 2026. Yay! Mooted for years, it is almost a reality. And to celebrate tickets went on sale (10 June 2026) for the first commercial passenger flights. Another big Yay!

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) will be Sydney’s new 24-hour airport. Officially, the airport is named after pioneering Australian aviator Nancy-Bird Walton. The airport is located in the suburb of Badgerys Creek, roughly 44 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD. The airport is designed to handle up to 10 million passengers a year from opening. It is hoped long-term capacity will grow to 82 million, comparable to London’s Heathrow today.

Opening to cargo from 26 July 2026, Qantas Freight will be among the first operators. But it is in October when passenger flights begin. And Jetstar have been the first Aussie airline to offer tickets. Flights will mostly be the popular Melbourne – Sydney, Sydney – Gold Coast routes. 

At the moment the last flight from Melbourne to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport leaves around 10pm and arrives just after 11pm. With the new 24-hour Western Sydney Airport flights could be overnight. Personally, I’m not keen on catching a flight at 3am in Melbourne with arrival in Sydney at 4am! So the jury is out on this at the moment. 

Passengers will be able to access the terminal via the new toll-free M12 motorway, with over 6000 car parking spaces on site. And, there will be public bus services connecting from Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and other surrounding suburbs. It is hoped a fast-rail will be built to get people into Sydney’s CBD.

Will you include flying to or from Western Sydney International Airport is your Aussie travel plans? Or will you stay on the ground?