Australia's new Western Sydney International Airport welcomed its first passengers on October 25, becoming the country's first major new airport in more than 50 years.
Located at Badgerys Creek 60km west of central Sydney, the AUD5,6 billion (R68 billion) facility will operate 24 hours a day, offering airlines greater scheduling flexibility and expanding access to Australia's largest city.
The opening marks a significant development for Sydney's aviation network, with the existing Sydney Airport subject to a night curfew that restricts take-offs and landings between 23h00 and 06h00.
Low-cost carrier Jetstar operated the new airport's first departing passenger flight to the Gold Coast. Air New Zealand launched international services between Auckland and Western Sydney on October 26, and Singapore Airlines is scheduled to introduce daily flights between Singapore and the new airport on November 23.
The airport initially has the capacity to accommodate 10 million passengers annually, with plans for future expansion to handle more than 80 million passenger movements a year.
