Arabic version: مطار غرب سيدني يستعد لمنافسة أفالون

According to The Guardian, Western Sydney international airport is due to begin commercial flights this weekend, creating a new comparison with Melbourne’s Avalon airport. Both secondary airports are roughly 60km from their city centres and had Jetstar operate their first flights, but their operating plans differ markedly.

Seven airlines have signed up to fly from Western Sydney, which is expected to relieve pressure on Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport and increase competition. Federal transport minister Catherine King has said it will serve up to 10 million passengers a year, with expansion planned to reach up to 80 million annual passengers by 2060.

Avalon began passenger services with Jetstar alone and has capacity for 1.2 million passengers a year, according to chief executive Ari Suss. The airport has about 55 to 60 commercial flights a week, including 35 return flights to Sydney, as well as services to Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Bali.

Western Sydney can operate around the clock, unlike Kingsford Smith, which has an 11pm to 6am curfew and limits of 80 takeoffs and landings in an hour. However, the new airport’s promised rail links are not due until 2027 or 2028, while Kingsford Smith already has a rail connection to Sydney’s CBD.

Both airports also target freight growth. Western Sydney’s 24-hour cargo precinct opened in July and is planned to handle up to 1.8m tonnes of air cargo annually. Aviation expert Prof Rico Merkert said the airport may need 10 years to become commercially viable, while Avalon’s private ownership by Linfox gives it strategic value within broader logistics operations.