Western Sydney International Airport welcomed its first passengers from another country on 26 October 2026. They arrived from Auckland on Air New Zealand flight NZ165. The airport opened the day before. Jetstar started flights within Australia that day.
The airport is at Badgerys Creek, about 60 kilometres west of central Sydney. It is Australia’s first major new international airport in 50 years. Planes can arrive and leave at any time. Sydney’s existing Kingsford Smith Airport limits flights between 11 pm and 6 am.
The new airport can serve 10 million passengers a year at first. The airport says this number could rise to more than 80 million. Flights within Australia and flights to other countries use the same building. Machines help passengers check in and handle their bags.
Passengers can reach the airport by bus, taxi, shared ride services or hire car. Drivers can use the M12 road without paying a road charge. The airport takes its name from Nancy Bird Walton. She was Australia’s first woman to work as a commercial pilot, flying planes as a paid job.
