Sydney Airport |SYD| International & Domestic

About Sydney International Airport

Located in the suburb of Mascot, Kingsford Smith Airport (IATA: SYD, ICAO: YSSY) is an international and domestic airport in Sydney. It covers an area of 65 hectares (161 acres) south of the city centre and is Australia's main air hub. The entire facility is managed by Sydney Airport Holdings.

The history of the airport's commercial use dates back to 1933, when the first gravel runways were built. Then, it gradually expanded and turned into a modern flight complex with three paved runways located next to Botany Bay. They now serve 46 domestic and 43 international destinations, making SYD the busiest airport in the country.

The excellent infrastructure of the airfield contributes to its high traffic levels. With 348,904 aircraft movements, it has become the 38th busiest airport in the world. Also, in 2018, it entered the TOP-5 airports serving up to 50 million passengers a year.

Sydney Airport as a hub

Mascot Airport is the base hub for Qantas, while Jetstar and Virgin Australia use it as a secondary hub. Also, it’s a focus destination for Air New Zealand and Rex Airlines. By 2019, the TOP-10 busiest routes include Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns, Canberra, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, and Singapore.

Handling over 44,000,000 passengers in 2019, the airport has achieved the highest annual traffic in its history. In 2020, the coronavirus crisis cut the number of travellers by 4 times, which is equivalent to 11 million passengers.

Finally, in 2021, traffic fell to 7 million - the lowest mark in the last 35 years. Post-pandemic 2022 was a growth year, with passengers travelling 5 times more often.

Contact information

Sydney Airport is the main air getaway in the Sydney NSW area. It features three terminals, with the following operating hours 7 days a week:

• International Terminal 1: 3:00 am - 11:00 pm
• Domestic Terminal 2 & 3: 4:00 am - 11:00 pm

For any compliments, questions, complaints, or other feedback, contact the facility by phone. Dial +133 SYD (793) within Australia or +61 2 9667 9111 for calls from outside the country. Phone support is available Monday through Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm.

The Sydney Airport address is Sydney NSW 2020, Australia. You can use this to contact the facility directly.

Sydney Airport wait times

During off-peak hours, and with a full staff, the process of arriving at the airport, passing through a security check, and getting to the desired gate takes about 30 minutes. Wait times may vary slightly during peak periods.

Sydney Airport curfew

Sydney Australia Airport has a curfew between 11.00 pm and 6.00 am. This applies to all aircraft operations, including landing and takeoff. As an exception, only certain flights are allowed to arrive/depart during that time; this includes emergency service aircraft and other planes that need to land for emergency reasons.

COVID-19 travel rules in Sydney, Australia

The worsening epidemiological situation in some countries has led to the introduction of additional requirements. From 00:01 AEDT 5 January 2023, travellers arriving in Australia from China, including Hong Kong and Macau, must submit a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of their scheduled departure time.

For legal arrival at Sydney Airport, a rapid COVID test or PCR test is required for both direct flights and flights with a stopover in a third country. However, if you are departing from other countries, a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), which includes Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, is not required to land at Sydney Airport.

Please note that some carriers and countries may have different health requirements for travellers. You may need a negative test to get on a plane to Australia. This is why it is important to, carefully study the carrier's policy and the epidemiological rules of the countries you are travelling or transiting through.

Sydney Airport COVID testing

Sometimes, a negative test is needed in the destination country, and you need to decide on a testing site. The best place for this is Histopath at Sydney Airport. The facility is located right in the terminal and provides PCR test results within 90 minutes after the procedure. Domestic and international passengers can take the test up to 72 hours before their scheduled departure time.

If you would like to pass COVID testing at Sydney Airport on the day of departure, please arrive at the terminal 3-4 hours in advance. At the end of the procedure, you will receive paper confirmation that you have been tested. At the same time, the result will be sent to your email in PDF format.

Sydney Airport flights

Kingsford Smith Airport is the premier domestic and international hub. It serves flights within Australia and provides an extensive list of connections to worldwide centres. Find more information below to check which destinations are available from/to the airport.

International directions

Sydney Airport international arrivals and departures include direct intercontinental flights to North and South America, South Africa, South-East Asia, Japan, and the Middle East. At the same time, destinations within Europe, North Africa, and the rest of the Asian centres are connected through intermediate hubs in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Hong Kong.

Flights to/from North America are served via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, and Vancouver. If you are departing from South Africa, Johannesburg is the only stopover destination available to enter Australia. Travellers from South America can catch a connecting flight from Santiago, Chile.

In addition, Sydney International Airport departures and arrivals offer direct connections to New Zealand cities such as Wellington, Auckland, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Nadi, located on the South Pacific Islands, is also within direct reach and provides an intermediate point to other Pacific Islands.

The convenient geographical position of the SYD Airport makes it possible to reach multiple spots around the globe. The list of available countries includes Canada, China, India, Chile, the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Italy, the Philippines, Qatar, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Domestic destinations

Sydney is easy to access directly via other major regional airports. In some cases, you may need to transfer to a connecting flight in the state capital. From Kingsford Smith Airport, you can fly to Brisbane or Melbourne in an hour and a half. A trip to Canberra takes 45 minutes while Darwin and Perth are within 6 hours by plane.

If you want to get to Alice Springs in Northern Territory or Cairns in Queensland, be prepared for a journey of up to 3 hours. Other popular Sydney Airport domestic connections include Gold Coast, Adelaide, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Ballina, Coffs Harbor, Launceston, and Hamilton Island.

Sydney Airport arrivals and departures today

Whether you are meeting someone or going on a trip yourself, you will need up-to-date arrivals/departures information from the airport. Fortunately, you can check the required Sydney Airport flight status in the following table.

Find the upcoming flight that interests you and get the details you need, including the operating airline, scheduled arrival/departure time, destination, and current status. This way you can plan your schedule intelligently and not waste time if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Flight alerts at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

On our site, you can take advantage of the latest arrivals/departures information with the handy flight status alert tool. Enter your email address and flight number below to subscribe to live flight updates. You will then receive email notification of any changes including Sydney Airport delays and cancellations applicable to your flight.

Airlines at SYD Airport

Three Sydney Airport runways serve direct passenger flights to 87 destinations in 28 countries. Among them are 44 domestic and 43 international connections operated by a total of 50 airlines.

Today, the longest non-stop flight departing from Sydney SYD is a 5,339-mile-long (8,593 km) trip to Houston IAH in Texas, USA. Operated by United Airlines, the intercontinental route takes around 15 hours and 40 minutes to fly. Other long-haul routes by this carrier include flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Check out which airlines have the most destinations from/to Mascot Airport below. Please note that the final list may change due to seasonal flights.

• Qantas (QF) 59 destinations
• Jetstar (JQ) 26 destinations
• Virgin Australia (VA) 18 destinations
• Regional Express (ZL) 16 destinations
• Air New Zealand (NZ) 4 destinations
• Fly Pelican (FP) 24 destinations
• United Airlines (UA) 3 destinations
• Emirates (EK) 2 destinations
• Garuda Indonesia (GA) 2 destinations

Weather in Sydney, Australia

The weather is one of the major factors that can affect the success of your journey. Therefore, knowing the current forecast is important for thoughtful planning and packing.

By keeping the weather in mind, you can bring the necessary clothing and personal items with you, prepare a list of activities according to the weather, and avoid possible hurricanes and other natural hazards. To get the forecast, check next week's Sydney Airport weather below.

Sydney Airport terminals

Travellers can use the three passenger terminals on site. With Terminal 1 serving international flights, SYDTerminal 2 and Terminal 3 accept domestic arrivals/departures. Moreover, the International Terminal is separated from T2 and T3 by a runway. Thus, expect to spend more time on the transfer if you have a transit flight that requires moving between terminals. This is especially true during peak periods when there are a lot of people around.

Getting between the terminals and Sydney by car or taxi is smooth and fast. However, add some extra time to your trip if you travel during the morning rush hours (7-9 am). In addition, check-in and security procedures are longer than at a regular international airport. Therefore, the total time from arrival to departure may increase.

If you land at Kingsford Smith Airport while several large aircraft have landed before, brace yourself for a slower passage through immigration and customs. The same goes for waiting for a taxi. Keep in mind that the situation with Sydney Airport queues gets even worse during the first and last days of the holidays when the terminals are filled with travellers.

Sydney Domestic Airport Terminal 2

Located in the northeastern part of the facility, Sydney Domestic Airport Terminal 2 serves internal flights between multiple Australian destinations. Its infrastructure includes 20 parking bays connected by aerobridges and a couple of remote parking stands for regional aircraft.

As the airport's largest terminal, it handles several carriers including Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Regional Express (Rex), FlyPelican, and Link Airways. In the case of connected flights, you can reach T3 on pedestrian walkways within less than 7 minutes. At the same time, the International Terminal (T1) is accessible within a 10-minute shuttle ride. If you want to relax, the lounges for Regional Express Airlines and Virgin Australia are at your disposal at T2.

Sydney Airport Terminal 3

T3 is a domestic terminal serving the Sydney Airport departures and arrivals of two carriers - Qantas with QantasLink. This terminal is accessible in the northeastern part of the facility and is adjacent to the southern section of Terminal 2.

The original design of the building came about as a result of its expansion in 1999. Its main feature is its columnless structure, which allows for an area of 80,000 square metres under a 60-metre-long roof span. Terminal 3 handles Sydney Domestic Airport arrivals and departures using 14 parking bays operated by aerobridges. Plus, two remote parking stands feature dual aerobridges.

Passengers waiting for a flight at Terminal 3 can spend time in the Qantas Club lounge, divided into Business Class and Chairmans lounge. Also, a 'Heritage Collection' is available within the facility. It’s located near Gate 13 and reveals the airline's extensive collection of over 90 years of history. An excellent view of the platform is another feature of this terminal. Thus, it’s popular among plane spotters.

If you are going to depart from T3, please note that check-in closes 45 minutes before the scheduled departure. If you are taking a connecting flight, you can easily reach your desired terminal. T2 is accessible by pedestrian walkways, while T3 can be reached by shuttle bus.

The fourth terminal at the international airport in Sydney

Kingsford Smith Airport once had a Terminal 4 located east of Terminal 2. It was used by Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Blue, and Impulse Airlines, until T2 was closed due to the crash of Ansett-ANA Flight 325. Now, T4 serves as an office building.

Sydney Airport transfers between the terminals

After landing, you may need to get to another terminal to board a connecting flight. Fortunately, the available options for airport transfer in Sydney make it easy to move between T1, T2, and T3. The terminals are located close to each other. However, the International Terminal is separated from domestic ones by a runway. You can't get to it on foot, so be prepared to spend more time on the crossover. If necessary, you can ask the airline you're flying with for the best transfer method to use.

Terminal transfers

Airport transfers in Sydney include several options for moving between T1, T2, and T3. Consider all available means to reach the desired terminal based on the time you have to make your connection.

T-Bus service

The T-Bus company offers a free airport shuttle in Sydney running between the International Terminal and Domestic Terminals. The bus leaves every 30 minutes starting at 5:30 am, while the entire trip takes 10 minutes. The last bus departs at 9:30 pm. Check out the shuttle bus stop locations at the terminals below:

• Terminal 1 International: The stop is available at the arrivals hall opposite the Rydges Hotel.
• Terminals 2 and 3 Domestic: You can catch the bus at the arrivals level, as you exit the terminal.

Sydney Airport train

Travellers can use the Airport Link to quickly move between the International and Domestic terminals. A single one-way trip costs AU$8.60 but the price is subject to change when paying with an Opal Card. The airport train Sydney runs frequently between 5 am and midnight and operates seven days a week. The trip takes no more than 2 minutes, which is perfect if you have little time before the connecting flight's scheduled departure.

Taxi

If necessary, you can catch a taxi to get to your desired terminal faster. The ride between T1 International and the T2/T3 domestic terminals takes no more than 10 minutes. A one-way trip costs AU$17.00 - AU$22.00. The taxi rank is located in front of the exit of each terminal.

Alternatively, rideshare services are also available. You can use the app to request a car. The driver will be waiting for you at the airport priority pick-up section.

420 bus

Another method of transportation between terminals is to use the Sydney Buses Route 420. It runs from Eastgardens to Burwood, with intermediate stops at Sydney Airport. The bus leaves at T1 and T3, on the Arrivals level outside of these terminals. The trip costs AU$1.60/person during the off-peak period and AU$3.20/person during rush hours. You can pay for the service with a bank card or Opal transport card.

Services at Sydney Mascot Airport

Whether you are waiting for Sydney Airport domestic departures or international arrivals, the on-site facilities will help you make the most of your time. The multitude of services and amenities offered in the airport will maximise the comfort of your trip. Check out the full list of benefits you can enjoy in the terminals:

• Accessibility services
• Restaurants and lounges
• Free Wi-Fi
• Baggage storage
• Information desks
• ATMs and Currency Exchange
• Lost property
• Medical services
• Water stations
• Medical Travel Companions
• Meeting and conference rooms
• Dedicated meeting points
• Post office
• Prayer room
• Shower facilities
• Tourist Refund Scheme
• Travel agency
• VIP rooms
• Oversized baggage
• Telephones

Sydney Airport currency exchange

The airport offers a full range of currency exchange services. The first way to exchange money is to find the Global Exchange booths located throughout the International Terminal. Another available option is ordering money online. Also, you can withdraw money from your bank card at the local rate at any ATM established within the facility. If you want to properly plan your travel budget and know how much money to exchange, use our simple converter below.

Leisure facilities at SYD Airport

Sydney Airport food venues

If you feel hungry after a long trip, or while waiting for a delayed flight, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the many on-site culinary establishments. These include full-service bars and restaurants such as Mach2 or MoVida, or casual dining options. Also, quick eats and fast food options are at your disposal. Among them are Chur Burger, Hungry Jack's, and McDonald's at Sydney Airport. Browse the full list of local dining spots below.

Sydney Airport shops

Sydney Airport offers a wide range of shopping options for you to enjoy. These include clothing, accessory, travel, and souvenir stores located in the terminals. Also, Sydney Airport duty-free shops are available for arriving/departing passengers.

Sydney Airport lounges

Passengers waiting for a direct or connecting flight can use the lounges to take a break from the crowds and relax. The following options are available within the terminals:

• Lounges in Terminal 1: Air New Zealand Lounge, Emirates Lounge, The House Qantas Club Lounge, Silver Kris Lounge, American Express Lounge, Skyteam Lounge.
• Lounges in Terminal 2: Virgin Australia Lounge, The Rex Lounge.
• Lounges in Terminal 3: Qantas Club Lounge.

Keep in mind that lounge access is only permitted with an active boarding pass on hand. Also, entrance to The House and Skyteam lounges is available for a fee.

Sydney Airport parking

Airport parking in Sydney features short-term and long-term options. Spaces are available near each terminal and provide convenient access to the departure area. If you need to pick someone up from the airport, take advantage of the public pick-up and express pick-up zones, which are free of charge for up to 15 minutes.

Transport from Sydney Airport to the city

You can choose any available method to get to downtown Sydney after landing. Available options include buses, taxis, ride-sharing services, shuttles, trains, rental cars, limousines, and even bikes. The distance between the city and the terminals is 8 km (5 miles) so you won't spend much on your trip. For example, the Sydney Airport train costs AU$16 per person. On the other hand, the cost of a taxi ride reaches AU$45-AU$55 one way.

Car hire at Sydney Airport

Having a set of wheels on hand is a perfect way to enjoy a smooth travel experience. Fortunately, dozens of famous international companies provide high-quality car rental at Sydney Airport. You can choose among 7 vehicle types, including Compact, SUV, Economy, Standard, Full Size, Luxury and VAN.

Would you like to book a car now? Fill out the search form on our website. We offer cheap and reliable deals with unlimited miles and insurance packages, and make it possible for you to add the equipment you need.

Sydney Airport hotels

You may want to stay close to or directly at the airport for more travel flexibility. What's more, most of Sydney's major attractions are within a short drive away. Because of these factors, it is a good idea to choose a Sydney Airport hotel that suits your expected conditions and price range. You can review the popular lodging options in the following catalogue. Pay attention to their customer ratings. Each hotel you see below provides all the necessary services and amenities for a comfortable stay.

Popular destinations from Sydney

SYD Airport is an excellent starting point for a short weekend or a long vacation. You can choose dozens of destinations to fly to. If you still don't know where to go, take a look at the TOP 10 popular domestic/overseas directions, calculated according to the number of scheduled flights for last month:

• Melbourne (MEL) - 1966 flights
• Brisbane (BNE) - 1175 flights
• Gold Coast (OOL) - 772 flights
• Canberra (CBR) - 512 flights
• Adelaide (ADL) - 455 flights
• Perth (PER) - 402 flights
• Auckland (AKL) - 337 flights
• Sunshine Coast (MCY) - 296 flights
• Singapore (SIN) - 271 flights
• Hobart (HBA) - 253 flights

Cost of living in Sydney, Australia

Proper travel planning is the key to a cost-effective trip. So, if you are going to visit Sydney soon, we recommend checking approximate local prices for groceries, rental apartments, transportation, and other important items.

For example, the average cost of a meal at a restaurant is AU$16.88, while a McMeal at McDonald’s (or Equivalent Combo Meal) is available for AU$10.13. A one-way ticket on local transport costs AU$3.38. If you are travelling in a rental car, 1 litre of fuel costs AU$1.38. Find prices for different items in the following catalogue.