Western Sydney Airport opens but access remains an issue

While the airport promises more airline competition and convenient departures for western Sydney residents, reaching the terminal remains for the time being a challenge for many travellers.

Located at Badgerys Creek, about 45 km from Sydney’s central business district and 17.5 km from Penrith, the airport operates 24 hours a day, unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which has an overnight curfew.

Jetstar’s initial network connects Western Sydney with Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. The airline operates up to 14 weekly flights to Melbourne, daily services to the Gold Coast and three weekly flights to Brisbane, equivalent to 24 weekly departures.

Jetstar has advertised one-way launch fares from approximately $35 (A$54) to the Gold Coast, $40 (A$61) to Melbourne and $42 (A$65) to Brisbane. The promotional fares are subject to availability and exclude checked baggage.

Air New Zealand began flights to Auckland on October 26, operating three weekly services. Together, the two airlines offer up to 27 weekly departures across four destinations at launch.

Singapore Airlines will add daily flights to Singapore from November 23, extending the airport’s international network. QantasLink is scheduled to begin four weekly flights each to Melbourne and Brisbane on March 28, 2027. VietJet and Fiji Airways have also announced future services. The Vietnamese low-cost carrier will launch its first frequencies in January 2027 followed by Fiji Airways in March. Qatar Airways also just announced to introduce three weekly Doha flights in December 2027. The airline already announced to offer a daily service from 2028.

Getting to the airport
The main transport options vary considerably in price and journey time.

Public transport: The Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line is not expected to open until 2027. Until then, passengers can travel by train to St Marys and take the free WSI Link shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes. Additional bus services connect Mount Druitt, Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Leppington, with adult fares starting at about $4 (A$5.77).

From Sydney’s Central Station, the quickest public transport option is a train to Penrith followed by a bus, taking about 100 minutes and costing approximately $7 (A$10.31). There is no direct public transport connection from the city centre.

Express shuttle: Super Shuttle WSI offers a faster alternative. A one-way trip from Sydney’s central business district costs about $36 (A$55), or $52 (A$80) round trip, with a journey of 45 to 60 minutes. From Parramatta, fares are approximately $16 (A$25) one-way and $29 (A$45) round trip. Transfers to Sydney Kingsford Smith cost around $42 (A$65) one-way and take 60 to 75 minutes.

Driving and parking: The toll-free M12 motorway provides road access, and the airport has more than 6,000 parking spaces. Visitor parking is free for three hours. Long-stay parking costs about $10 (A$15) daily, while uncovered spaces cost $19 (A$29) and covered spaces $32 (A$49) per day.

Taxi and rideshare: A taxi to Penrith’s central business district could cost around $53 (A$81), while a rideshare is estimated at approximately $39 (A$60). Unlike Sydney’s existing airport, Western Sydney has not announced a capped taxi fare.

Sydney second airport main benefits for travellers should be increased competition and eventually lower airfares. However, higher jet fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict could delay meaningful savings.