The New Western Sydney Airport: What’s Happening At Bankstown

Sydney’s west is changing fast—and now, we officially have dates. The long-awaited Western Sydney International Airport is just months away from opening, with the first flights locked in for 2026.

For locals across Bankstown, Liverpool and Penrith, it marks a major shift in how we travel—and a new economic chapter for the region.

Here’s everything you need to know about Sydney’s second airport, how it will work, and what it means for Western Sydney.

Know what you want? Skip to

• Where Is the New Western Sydney Airport Being Built?
• When Will the Airport Open & Who Will Fly There?
• How Will It Change Travel For Sydneysiders?
• What It Means For Western Sydney

Where Is the New Western Sydney Airport Being Built?

The new airport is taking shape across 1,800 hectares at Badgerys Creek, about 40–50 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD. It forms part of the broader Western Sydney Aerotropolis—a fast-growing precinct expected to house logistics hubs, business parks, advanced manufacturing and education campuses.

While often mentioned alongside Bankstown, the two airports will serve very different roles. WSI will be a full-scale, curfew-free international, domestic and freight airport. Bankstown Airport will continue operating as a key base for light aviation, aerospace, manufacturing and logistics.

The $6 billion project has been more than a decade in planning and construction. Now in its final stretch, the terminal is complete, flight paths are locked in, and the airport is deep in system testing—checking infrastructure, training staff and running full operational trials ahead of opening.

Environmental planning has been guided by the 2015–16 Environmental Impact Statement, with strict controls around noise, biodiversity and air quality management.

When Will the Airport Open & Who Will Fly There?

The timeline is now clearer than ever.

• July 2026: The first flights begin—initially cargo.
• October 2026: The first passenger flights take off.

Western Sydney International has confirmed four major launch airline partners:

• Qantas
• Singapore Airlines
• Air New Zealand
• Jetstar

Ticket sales are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with airlines timing releases outside peak holiday booking periods.

International flights are scheduled to operate before the end of 2026, meaning Western Sydney will quickly become a genuine global gateway—not just a domestic overflow.

By 2030, the airport is forecast to add more than 200 extra flights per day to Sydney’s aviation capacity. With demand expected to double over the next two decades, WSI will play a crucial role in relieving pressure on Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Jetstar’s confirmed presence is also expected to shake up competition on key routes. Industry watchers suggest it could pressure competitors like Virgin Australia to add Western Sydney services.

And yes—it will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unlocking red-eye and late-night departures currently impossible at Mascot due to curfews.

Insider Intel

• Keep an eye out for ticket sales announcements soon—airlines are expected to go live in the near future as schedules are finalised.

How Will It Change Travel For Sydneysiders?

Beyond the runway, some of the biggest innovations are happening behind the scenes.

The terminal features shared self-service kiosks and bag drops usable by all airlines—an efficiency move that reduces congestion and frees up space.

It’s also trialling an Australian-first, robot-powered baggage handling system developed by Vanderlande (owned by Toyota). The automated system collects luggage, sorts it and delivers it to aircraft containers—currently being stress-tested with thousands of bags of every shape and size to ensure smooth operations from day one.

Final works underway include airport lighting, a dedicated fire station, and the fit-out of retail and food and beverage outlets.

For Western Sydney locals, the biggest shift is proximity.

Instead of trekking across the city to Mascot, travellers from Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Mount Druitt will have an international airport much closer to home.

Road Access:

• The new M12 Motorway—due to open in 2026—will provide a direct, toll-free link from the M7 to the airport.

Approximate drive times:

• Penrith: 25 minutes
• Parramatta: 35 minutes
• Bankstown: 40 minutes

Public Transport:

The $12 billion Sydney Metro–Western Sydney Airport line is under construction and will connect the airport to St Marys via Orchard Hills, Luddenham and Bradfield.

The Metro is now expected to open in 2027. Until then, free interim bus services will connect the airport to Penrith, Oran Park, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Mount Druitt and Leppington. Several of these upgraded bus routes will remain permanently.

Once operational, the Metro is set to become the transport spine for Greater Western Sydney—linking communities directly to the airport and emerging Aerotropolis precinct.

Beyond travel convenience, WSI represents a generational economic shift.

What It Means For Western Sydney

Western Sydney’s population is forecast to hit three million by the 2030s. The airport—and the industries clustering around it—are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs across aviation, logistics, retail, tourism and education.

It’s also a boost for regional tourism. The Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Southern Highlands will suddenly become far more accessible for international visitors landing directly in the west.

Meanwhile, nearby Bankstown is undergoing its own transformation via the Bankstown Airport Collaboration Area—a partnership between the NSW Government and local council. Anchored by a $1.3 billion hospital redevelopment, a Western Sydney University campus and the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line, the precinct is projected to deliver 25,000 jobs and attract 25,000 students by 2036.

Insider Intel

• Expect shorter check-in times, less congestion than Mascot, expanded red-eye options, and increased fare competition as airlines battle it out across two Sydney airports.

Image credit: Western Sydney Airport | Instagram