# Sydney's New $4 Billion Airport Opens With Few Flights

> Sydney's new $4 billion airport opens with minimal flights as demand remains uncertain.
- Title: Sydney's New $4 Billion Airport Opens With Few Flights · mint
- Summary: Sydney's new $4 billion airport opens with minimal flights as demand remains uncertain. Sydney's Western Sydney International airport opens with few flights…
- Keywords: western sydney international, sydney, qantas, jetstar, virgin australia, australian aviation, airports, sydney kingsford smith, news, india, Sydney's, Billion
- Source: mint — https://livemint.com/companies/sydneys-new-4-billion-airport-opens-with-barely-any-flights-11792354815689.html
- Published: 2026-10-18T20:20:15+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: western sydney international, sydney, qantas, jetstar, virgin australia, australian aviation, airports, sydney kingsford smith, news, india
## New $4 Billion Airport Opens
Sydney's Western Sydney International airport opens with first passenger flight on Sunday.
## Few Airlines Join
Only Jetstar and a handful of airlines have scheduled flights for the new airport.
## Limited Flights Expected
The airport will handle half-a-dozen or fewer flights daily for the next 12 months.
## Global Travel Challenges
Airlines face rising fuel costs and fares as the Iran war drags on globally.
## Local Population Key
By 2030, half of Sydney's 6.1 million people will live in the city's west.
## Qantas Cuts Domestic Flights
Qantas plans to operate one domestic flight per day from March next year.
## Virgin Australia No Flights
Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. has no scheduled flights at the new airport.
## Airport's Long-Term Plan
The airport expects to handle 8.4 million passengers by 2030 and 20 million by 2045.
## Use It Or Lose It
Airport CEO says the airport must gain local use to attract more airlines.
## Key takeaway

Sydney's Western Sydney International airport opens with few flights despite plans for 8.4 million annual passengers by 2030.