Your ultimate guide to Western Sydney Airport

• The brand-new Western Sydney Airport is open this month.
• Find out how to get there, including parking, buses, rideshares and the future metro.
• Take a look inside the new airport, from its design to its high-tech passenger experience.

Western Sydney Airport is ready to welcome its passengers, eight years after major construction began in September 2018.

Located in Luddenham, around 44 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD, the new airport is set to transform connectivity across Western Sydney, bringing international and domestic travel closer to the region’s growing population.

The airport will also be Australia’s first “paperless” gateway, making use of biometric ID checks to minimise the need to present physical travel documents (i.e. you won’t be rummaging through the bottom of your bag for your passport and boarding pass at every checkpoint).

Here’s our ultimate guide to Western Sydney International Airport, covering everything from the airlines taking to the skies to parking, public transport and what to expect when you get there.

Key things to know

Let’s start off this guide with the most important/ significant things to know about Sydney’s new airport.

• Western Sydney International Airport will open on Sunday, October 25.
• The airport will operate for 24 hours a day, with no curfew (unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which bans most aircraft take-offs and landings between 11pm and 6am).
• Domestic and international flights will be handled from a single integrated terminal.
• Six airlines have been confirmed to fly from this terminal, including Jetstar, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Vietjet Air and Fiji Airways.

Who will fly from Western Sydney Airport?

The following six airlines have been confirmed to fly from the new Western Sydney Airport.

Jetstar

Jetstar flight JQ362 will be the first ever passenger flight to leave Western Sydney Airport, bound for the Gold Coast.

Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between Western Sydney Airport and Melbourne (Tullamarine), alongside daily services to the Gold Coast and three weekly services to Brisbane. These services will start in October.

Qantas

Qantas will offer a series of flights to the east coast of Australia, with meals and checked baggage included. Flights between Sydney and Brisbane and Melbourne will commence on March 28, 2027. These flights are now on sale.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways will begin flying between Western Sydney Airport and Doha three times a week from December 2027, with plans to increase the service to daily flights by the end of 2028.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines will offer a daily evening flight from WSI to Singapore from 23 November 2026. 

Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways will operate three flights a week from Western Sydney Airport to Nadi.

Vietjet Air

Vietjet Air also announced direct flights between WSI and Ho Chi Minh City. From January 2027, Vietjet will operate two weekly services, increasing to three flights per week from March 2027.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand will operate three weekly morning flights from WSI to Auckland. Flights are on sale now for travel from 26 October 2026.

Is it cheaper to fly from Western Sydney Airport?

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as saying flights from Western Sydney Airport are cheaper than those from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD).

It’s worth comparing fares from both airports when booking, while also factoring in the cost and convenience of getting to and from each one, and the availability of flights per day.

Take Jetstar’s route from Western Sydney Airport to Melbourne Tullamarine as an example. Standard economy fares from WSI generally start at around $67–$73 one-way, with return fares from approximately $93–$127.

By comparison, one-way Jetstar fares from SYD typically start at around $131–$159. However, offers significantly more flexibility if your plans change, with up to 15 Jetstar flights a day to Melbourne, compared with just 14 flights a week from WSI.

So while WSI may offer cheaper fares, SYD gives you far more choice when it comes to flight times and rebooking if your flight is cancelled.

For Western Sydney residents, the new airport could save significant time and transport costs thanks to its proximity. Parking is also considerably cheaper: SYD charges $41.30 per day for drive-up parking, or $189.30 for an eight-day stay, while Western Sydney Airport’s long-term parking starts from just $15 a day, so a week would cost you about $105.

So, while the base airfare may be cheaper from Western Sydney Airport, you could end up spending the same amount (or even more) just getting to the airport if you live in or around Sydney’s CBD.

How to get to Western Sydney Airport

Transport links are definitely one of the more contentious aspects of the new Western Sydney Airport.

By car

Luckily, the new toll-free M12 Motorway, a 16-kilometre east-west link to the M7 and the Northern Road, officially opened in March. The motorway serves as an intersection-free, 100 km/h gateway straight to the airport precinct.

Driving to Western Sydney Airport from Sydney’s CBD will take approximately 65 minutes in light or off-peak traffic, and 90-105 minutes during peak periods.

The airport has more than 6000 parking spaces, with different options for different budgets. The airport’s car parks can be accessed via the M12 Motorway, Elizabeth Drive and The Northern Road.

There will be free pick-up and drop-off areas, accessible parking, electric vehicle charging bays, licence plate recognition and short- and long- term parking options. They are as follows:

• P2 Premium Covered: A covered, self-park option just a 2–3-minute walk from the terminal. Suitable for both short and long stays.
• P2 Saver: A more affordable uncovered option, around a 4–6-minute walk from the terminal. Suitable for short or long stays.
• P4 Long Stay: The most budget-friendly option for longer trips. A free 15-minute shuttle connects the car park with the terminal.

Parking rates vary depending on how long you stay and which car park you choose, with a full breakdown available to check out here. They tend to start at $15 a day for long-term parking.

By metro

Unfortunately, the metro to Western Sydney Airport will not open until 2027, and there’s no official date set.

However, when the 23km line is eventually completed, it will connect Western Sydney Airport to St Marys, Orchard Hills, Luddenham, WSI Business Precinct and Bradfield.

Travellers will be able to catch the T1 train from Central to St Marys, and then change for the metro. This will be the same for people heading from Penrith or Parramatta. It will take roughly 15 minutes to travel between Western Sydney Airport and St Marys on the metro.

By bus

While we wait patiently for the metro to be completed, the next best thing is to hop on a shuttle bus from St Marys, or to ride the “Super Shuttle” from Central Station.

These shuttle buses are completely free to board and will run from opening day, connecting Sydney trains to the airport. They will run every 30 minutes from 5am to 10pm.

There are also new bus services for Western Sydney Airport from Penrith, Leppington, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt. These will also run every 30 minutes from 5am to 10pm. They are as follows:

• Route 772 Mount Druitt to Western Sydney Airport via St Clair
• Route 790 Penrith to Western Sydney Airport via Kingswood
• Route 825 Liverpool to Western Sydney Airport via Bonnyrigg
• Route 845 Campbelltown to Western Sydney Airport via Oran Park
• Route 860 Liverpool to Western Sydney Airport via Leppington

They’ll also be running a “Super Shuttle” trip taking travellers between the new airport and Central Station, which will cost $55 one-way and $80 return. A child one-way is $25, or $40.

By FlixBus

FlixBus, which is known for connecting Sydney with Canberra, is launching a new route between Western Sydney Airport and Canberra.

The service will be available on the same day that Western Sydney Airport opens to passengers, and will stop at Parramatta, Western Sydney Airport, Goulburn and Canberra, with two departures in each direction seven days a week. Initial departures from Parramatta are scheduled for 11:15am and 10:45pm, while services from Canberra’s Jolimont Tourist Centre depart at 6am and 4:45pm.

Introductory fares start at $21.99 from Western Sydney Airport to Parramatta, $29.99 from Western Sydney Airport to Canberra and $32.99 from Canberra to Parramatta. Travellers can get 20% off fares until November 8 using the code PA2CANB when booking.

By Uber or taxi

You’ll be able to order Ubers, DiDis and taxis from the terminal, though it’s recommended that you pre-book in advance as significant demand is expected, especially when the airport first opens.

What will the airport be like?

Design

Western Sydney Airport has been designed to feel distinctly connected to its surroundings, with the terminal drawing inspiration from the landscapes and cultural heritage of Western Sydney.

A collaboration led by Zaha Hadid Architects and COX Architecture (who won the design competition to develop the initial concepts in 2019), the design combines expansive glass windows, natural materials and timber ceilings.

The ceiling’s timber slats are designed to evoke sunlight filtering through eucalyptus trees (hello, Blue Mountains inspo), while the abundant natural light creates a bright and open atmosphere.

There are also plenty of references to the region’s sandstone heritage. Patterned stonework features throughout the terminal, with sandstone excavated from major Sydney infrastructure projects, including WestConnex and Sydney Metro tunnelling, reused as part of the airport’s construction.

Outside, the terminal’s façade is climate-responsive. In an effort to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint, more than 6000 solar panels have been pitched to its roof, and rainwater will be collected and recycled through the airport’s bathrooms, irrigation and cooling towers.

Experience

As previously mentioned, Western Sydney Airport has been designed around a more seamless, self-service journey, relying on ID biometrics and other technology to speed up processes from check-in through to boarding.

Other aspects of the state-of-the-art airport experience include self-service bag-drop machines that will allow travellers to tag and check in their own luggage, with an automated baggage system then transporting bags through the terminal.

Domestic and international passengers will share a single terminal building, with departure areas branching off within the same space. For travellers, that means a more straightforward layout and fewer separate airport buildings to navigate.

Shopping

Western Sydney Airport has not yet revealed its list of shopping outlets, but we do know that Lagardère AWPL (part of Lagardere Travel retail) will be their Duty Free and travel essentials retailer.

Lagardère AWPL will brings iconic brands and travel-exclusive products to the terminal. They already operate over 150 stores in 26 airports across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region, including major transport hubs like Sydney Airport, Auckland Airport and Brisbane Airport.

Other than that, the aiport has simply promised that it will feature “a range of food and shopping options, you’ll experience iconic brands and specialty stores, that reflect Western Sydney’s vibrant culture.” Watch this space!

Food and Beverage

There’s nothing better than a cold schooner of beer consumed before you’re about to board a flight (especially if you’re off on holiday!)

While we don’t know a lot about Western Sydney Airport’s food and bevarage options, we do know that Mountain Culture, a leading Blue Mountains craft brewery, is opening two venues at Western Sydney Airport.

Located within the terminal, the venues will cater to both domestic and international passengers, serving locally brewed beers alongside a modern Australian menu. The beers are brewed just 22 kilometres from the airport, so we’re expecting plenty of Western Sydney representation across the rest of the food and drink offering, too.

Passenger Amenities and Accessibility

Although Western Sydney Airport has not yet revealed whether it will have lounges, and we only have a small list of the shopping and dining outlets, we do know a bit about its passenger amenities:

• Complimentary drinking water stations will be located across the terminal and forecourt canopies.
• Free wi-fi will be available to connect to throughout the terminal.
• Play areas will be located on the departure concourses, with two in Domestic and one in International.
• Smoking will only be permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas located outside the terminal building.
• There will be private rooms providing a calm space for prayer or quiet reflection prior to a flight.
• The terminal has dedicated family rooms with private feeding spaces, bottle-prep facilities, change tables and room for strollers and hand luggage.
• Lifts at boarding and arrival gates have been provided to support passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs longer.
• Blue Mountains-inspired multi-sensory spaces are provided in both International and Domestic departures to support travellers with hidden disabilities.

To find out more about Western Sydney Airport, click here.