Everything you need to know about Australia’s new Western Sydney International airport
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Australia is getting a brand-new international airport for the first time in five decades.
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is in the west of the city and after decades in the works it officially opens to passengers on Sunday (25 October).
The new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. WSI
Nancy -Bird Walton was Australia’s first female commercial pilot.
It’s the city’s second, after Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Mascot.
(Though the city’s first international airport was actually at Rose Bay at Sydney Harbour and base for flying boats).
Unlike Sydney Airport, WSI will operate 24 hours a day, with no curfew, allowing flights to arrive and depart at any time.
With an official airport code of WSI, the airport will operate domestic and international flights.
Aussie airline Jetstar will make history as the first commercial passenger flight to take off from the airport when JQ362 departs at 11am on 25 October to the Gold Coast.
The next morning, Monday October 26, Air New Zealand will fly the first international flight to Auckland.
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is in the west of the city, close to Penrith. WSI
By the 2030s its planned the airport will handle 10 million annual passengers with jobs supporting 8,500 people.
“Our customers will be able to enjoy access to more than 250 destinations around the globe within the first 14 months of the airport’s launch, which is a strong start for Australia’s first major greenfield international airport in more than five decades,” WSI CEO Simon Hickey said.
Here’s everything passengers need to know before takeoff.
Where is Western Sydney Airport
The official address is 40 Nancy Drive, Luddenham, near Badgerys Creek.
It’s between Penrith and Campbelltown and 53km from Sydney Airport and 56km from the CBD.
Flights from Western Sydney Airport
Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Vietjet Air, Fiji Airways, Qatar Airways, Jetstar and Qantas are flying, or plan to, from the airport.
My God it’s a Woman! is an art installation at the airport. It’s a life-size model of the Gipsy Moth aircraft flown by pioneer Australian aviator Nancy-Bird Walton created by Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro. WIS
- Singapore Airlines: Flights daily to and from Changi from November 23.
- Air New Zealand Fly to Auckland daily on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, beginning on October 26.
- Vietjet Air: From January 10, 2027 the airline plans two weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Sunday and Wednesday increasing to three in March. Vietjet Thailand, plans four weekly services to Bangkok from November 2027.
- Fiji Airways: Nadi three times a week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.
- Qatar Airways: Taking off from 15 December 2027, QR will operate three flights a week between WSI and Hamad International Airport in Doha, with plans to increase its frequency to daily services by the end of 2028.
- Jetstar: Four weekly flights to the Gold Coast on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun. Three flights a week to Brisbane (Tue, Thu, Sat) and daily flights to Melbourne Tullamarine, up to 14 a week.
- Qantas: Four flights a week to both Melbourne and Brisbane both on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun, beginning March 2027.
A Jetstar plane at the new Western Sydney Airport. WSI
Emirates has also been cleared to have daily flights from Western Sydney International Airport, with details to be confirmed.
How to get to Western Sydney Airport
Driving from Sydney CBD area will take around an hour, depending on traffic.
The toll-free M12 Motorway connects Western Sydney International Airport to Sydney’s motorway network, with access to the M7.
Car, taxi and Uber pick-ups and drop-offs will operate too.
Uber will have a pick-up zone, 100 metres walk from the WSI’s terminal, including 10 kerbside pick-up bays.
There are a few public transport options.
New Sydney buses are running to the airport. Transport for NSW
A new Super Shuttle electric bus connects Sydney Airport, Parramatta and Sydney CBD.
From Parramatta the cost for an adult one way is $25 or $45 return. Children cost $10 or $15 return. A family ticket is $0, or $120 return.
Get on at Sydney Airport and $65 one way or $90 return for adults, while children cost $30 one way or $45 return. A family ticket is $170 or return at $230.
The bus to Sydney CBD is $55 or $80 return for adults. Children cost $25or $40 return and a family ticket is $140 or $210 return.
Children under two are free.
Tickets will also be available at kiosks in and around the WSI airport terminal.
Or you can catch a train and bus.
St Mary’s station is the closest and there will be a free airport shuttle from there.
It will run every 30 minutes Sunday to Thursday 4.30am – midnight and Friday and Saturday 4.30am – 1.00am.
Airbridges at the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. WSI
Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport is on the way but won’t open until the end of next year.
Transport for NSW is also running buses from 5am until 11pm.
They go every 30 minutes between WSI and Penrith, Leppington, Liverpool, Campbelltown, and Mount Druitt.
From Canberra, Flixbus Australia has launched a daily service also calling at Parramatta and Goulburn
Parking at Western Sydney Airport
There are four car parks with more than 6,000 spaces. The cost varies but book online in advance for the best prices.
It starts at $15 a day, alongside Saver parking from $29 and Premium parking from $49.
A free shuttle bus operates between Long Stay parking and the terminal every 15 minutes.
Electric vehicle charging is available in selected car parks
There will be six car rental operators at the airport: SIXT Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Redspot.
The new Western Sydney Airport is close to the NSW Blue Mountains. WSI
Hotels near Western Sydney Airport
There are no hotels yet directly at the airport. Instead, travellers will have to stay nearby or in the city.
The Wallacia Hotel which dates back to 1937 is technically the closest.
Options include a new Atura at Oran Park 20 minutes away. Parramatta has plenty of hotels, as do Penrith and Liverpool. Western Sydney’s first five-star hotel the Pullman opened in Penrith in 2025.
Atura Oran Park, near the new Western Sydney International Airport. Atura Oran Park, Sydney
Lounges at Western Sydney Airport
There will be one international lounge at Western Sydney Airport.
Initially, The Rayleigh Lounge will be for select Singapore Airlines passengers.
Once more airlines arrive it’s likely to be on offer to frequent fliers and business class customers.
It’ll have lounge and dining areas, a bar, and an open kitchen Wi-Fi, charging and three private shower suites.
More lounges will open as the airport expands.
The Rayleigh Lounge at Western Sydney Airport WSI
Shops at Western Sydney Airport
The airport will have the usual range of shops.
Retail giant agardère AWPL will operate 11 outlets, including duty free and travel essentials and three RELAY convenience shops.
Eyelove and Tech2Go stores are also opening, as well as Global Exchange.
Blue Mountains craft brewery, Mountain Culture, is opening two venues at Western Sydney Airport. WSI
Food at Western Sydney Airport
Blue Mountains craft brewery, Mountain Culture, is opening two venues.
It will offer a modern Australian menu in a restaurant-bar setting. No other venues have been announced yet.
There will also be children’s play areas.
The new Western Sydney Airport is known as WSI. WSI
Who designed Western Sydney Airport
ZHA Architects and Cox Architecture designed the airport, with Woods Bagot and it has already won awards.
The building aims to embedded sustainability into its design, reducing its carbon footprint, and charting a path for a net zero future.
It aims to fit with the location of the Cumberland Plain and the Blue Mountains and designers also worked with the First Nations knowledge from Dharug Custodians.
