After more than half a century of political procrastination, environmental protests and funding shortfalls, Sydney finally has a second airport. But the new A$5.6 billion (US$4 billion) site’s commercial prospects are already in question.
Western Sydney International, 50km (31 miles) inland from the city centre, will handle its first passenger flight on Sunday - 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. Many, including dominant Australian carrier Qantas, are cutting back on domestic capacity rather than laying on more flights.
Airlines are also struggling to get their hands on new jets, leaving few spare aircraft to send to startups like Western Sydney International where passenger demand is unproven.