Sydney's new international airport opens to passengers

Sydney's new airport opened to passengers on Sunday after more than a decade of planning, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said was a milestone for the country's most populous city.



The new Western Sydney International Airport in Badgerys Creek, about 60 km west of central Sydney, will operate 24 hours a day, giving airlines access to a fast-growing and ethnically diverse population centre.



The current airport, located closer to Sydney's central business district, can host takeoffs and landings only until 11 p.m. and after 6 a.m., limiting airline scheduling options relative to other major Australian cities like Melbourne.



"For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport. It’s a milestone that has been decades in the making," Albanese said in a statement.



Qantas' budget arm Jetstar was due to operate the first outbound flight to the Gold Coast on Sunday, the airport said in a statement. The airport has capacity for more than 80 million passenger movements annually, it said.