Sydney’s new $5 billion airport opens with barely any flights

After more than half a century of political procrastination, environmental protests and funding shortfalls, Sydney finally has a second airport. But the new $3.8 billion site’s commercial prospects are already in question.



Western Sydney International, 50km inland from the city centre, will handle its first passenger flight on Oct 25 – a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast.



But the facility has attracted only a handful of airlines and has half-a-dozen or fewer scheduled flights a day for the next 12 months, according to aviation data company Cirium.



Australia’s biggest aviation infrastructure development in decades is opening just as the global travel industry endures its toughest period since the pandemic.



Around the world, airlines are sounding the alarm on rising fuel costs and fares as the Iran War drags on.