Master Plan 2045 for Sydney Airport

[SeatBackForward]

Driverless buses? Could they not seriously just put in automated shuttle trains similar to those in SIN to move between T1 and T23 ?

 

[markis10]

One thing that I am puzzled with, given the airport is at capacity now for many hours of the day, what’s the point of expansion if no more runways etc are planned?

 

[kookaburra75]

One thing that I am puzzled with, given the airport is at capacity now for many hours of the day, what’s the point of expansion if no more runways etc are planned?

That was my thought too when I saw the news about the expansions and the greater numbers of passengers. If there are only so many flights a day, and taking into account that Sydney is currently operating at 75% of its total capacity/slots, how can they pack in an additional 75% more passengers? Granted some flights might move to WSI, but I haven't seen any hard analysis to suggest that will be sufficient to provide the additional capacity. Does that mean increasing flights, which can only happen if operating hours increase.... bye bye curfew?

 

[Mwenenzi]

I really couldn't care less about flying into Sydney ever again…. The last time we did a few years ago, we were to be picked up be relatives, which meant we couldn't line up at the taxi rank so we had to drag our bags about a kilometre to the left, uphill to some sort of reception area, and our relative had to pick us up from there. He had to pay $5 just to drive into this facility for the amount of time that it took to pick up our bags and put them in his car.. An unnecessary experience in this day and age, and it could only have been devised by a public servant greedy merchant banker (who owned the airport = millionaires factory)….

Corrected you post
AU airport car parks just print money at very low cost to the airport owners. A better return on investment than those runways

 

[Himeno]

Does that mean increasing flights, which can only happen if operating hours increase.... bye bye curfew?

They can still fit in more flights without touching the curfew. They can scrap the 20 movements/15 min period cap. They could get another 10-15 movements per hour without the cap.

 

[RooFlyer]

That was my thought too when I saw the news about the expansions and the greater numbers of passengers. If there are only so many flights a day, and taking into account that Sydney is currently operating at 75% of its total capacity/slots, how can they pack in an additional 75% more passengers?

Plus, aircraft are getting smaller. A380s won't be around for long; QF's A321XLR possibly replacing A330s ... Aircraft movements to increase for the same annual pax?

They can scrap the 20 movements/15 min period cap.

Do you mean they CAN scrap it (ie currently allowed to), or its theoretically possible? I doubt more movements per hour would appeal to the inner-city electorates.

 

[elanshin]

I'd say that even without runway expansions, terminal upgrade and more space is definitely welcome in both T1 and T2/T3. T3 generally isnt too overcrowded but T2 can definitely be at times. Arrivals in T1 during the morning peak can also be pretty brutal and they really need improve that as well. Terminal expansion would do wonders to help with that.

 

[markis10]

They can still fit in more flights without touching the curfew. They can scrap the 20 movements/15 min period cap. They could get another 10-15 movements per hour without the cap.

They could but have already said no changes, the resultant noise increase would be very bad for any governments future

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Syd-Airport-Demand-Management-Reforms-Fact-sheet_recovery-period-movement-cap-and-aircraft-noise.pdf

 

[SYD]

Plus, aircraft are getting smaller. A380s won't be around for long; QF's A321XLR possibly replacing A330s ... Aircraft movements to increase for the same annual pax?

The A321s carry more PAX than the B737s they replace. The A350s replacing the A330s will carry more PAX. So presumably a net increase.

We may see some new routes from ports (not necessarily SYD), using the future A321s with an QFi fit out.

Even the Sunrise flights will be in addition to some services, so current QF1 A380 will be replaced by an A351 (let’s call it QF31 via SIN) while a new QF1 nonstop is operating in parallel with QF9. Similarly QF are saying the current QF3 will continue in parallel with new Sunrise QF3.

What the real net increase / decrease due to WSI is anyone’s guess at the moment.

 

[RooFlyer]

The A321s carry more PAX than the B737s they replace. The A350s replacing the A330s will carry more PAX. So presumably a net increase.

Fair enough. But I was thinking more of A380s going completely, and A321 possibly (Probably) replacing A330s for medium range. There IS a trend to smaller, more fuel efficient aircraft.

I still can't see how they will increase their pax by >100%, which is their claim; and if they are saying that, presumably their business plan is based around something like that.

Anyway nothing of what I have seen makes SYD (airport ) more appealing to me.

 

[SYD]

Fair enough. But I was thinking more of A380s going completely, and A321 possibly (Probably) replacing A330s for medium range. There IS a trend to smaller, more fuel efficient aircraft.

I’m not convinced QF A321s will replace many, if any QFi A330 routes. New routes most likely eg ADL-SIN. Guess we’ll see but the QF Dom capacity will definitely increase.

I still can't see how they will increase their pax by >100%, which is their claim; and if they are saying that, presumably their business plan is based around something like that.

Yep, seems a bit pie in the sky. But as suggested earlier, shifting some short haul international / TT routes to T2/3 could be very beneficial for QF/JQ and NZ. Especially the later, they always seem to use remote stands during the morning rush.

Anyway nothing of what I have seen makes SYD (airport ) more appealing to me.

Probably at least 5yrs before we see what actually happens.

 

[SCM]

Driverless buses? Could they not seriously just put in automated shuttle trains similar to those in SIN to move between T1 and T23 ?

That would be orders of magnitude more expensive than a driverless bus.

 

[markis10]

Once WSI opens the curfew becomes hard, no flights whatsoever between 11 and 6, including the current early arrivals expeditions from 5. That’s going to reduce capacity at SYD, but at least it means no tower controllers on the doggo because there is nothing to control, so Airservices will appreciate that!

 

[SeatBackForward]

That would be orders of magnitude more expensive than a driverless bus.

Well SYD has competition now, they need to step up the reliability of passenger connections. Might have to defer some of those retail and car park investments.

 

[Mwenenzi]

AU Govt media release
Kingsford Smith 2045 Master Plan approved

The Master Plan 2045 for Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport has been approved, recognising the airport’s ongoing role as a critical domestic and international gateway to Australia’s largest city.

The plan outlines Sydney Airport’s 20-year strategic vision and details key developments over an initial five-year period.

The expansion of the international T1 terminal and redevelopment of the T2 and T3 domestic terminals, which will allow Australia’s busiest airport to cater for increasing demand, are included in the plan.
<snip>

SYD airport 14 Aug 2026

Sydney Airport sets course for future growth with new Master Plan

### Friday 14 August 2026 Sydney Airport’s Master Plan 2045 has been approved by the Australian Government, setting the long-term vision for how Australia's busiest airport will grow over the next two decades. The approval by Minister for Infrastruct

www.sydneyairport.com.au

ExecTrav AU Sydney T2, T3 domestic terminals to gain international flights

Transferring between domestic and international flights at Sydney Airport is set to become a lot faster and hassle-free, with the government approving an ambitious plan to combine the domestic T2 and T3 terminals and add new gates and facilities for overseas services.

This means that many travellers arriving on domestic flights by Qantas, Virgin Australia and regional airlines such as Rex will no longer need to make their way across to the international T1 terminal to catch an overseas flight. Instead, selected overseas flights by the likes of Qantas and Virgin will depart from the integrated T2/T3 hub using “12 new swing gates” which can switch between domestic and international operations while keeping passengers separated.

The most likely international flights departing from T2/T3 would include short hops to New Zealand, Bali and the Pacific Islands, as these tend to use the same aircraft as the domestic network.
<snip>
Work on the decade-long project will be carried out in stages from 2028, with the first combined domestic and international swing gates in place by the early 2030s.
<snip>

Link Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045

2013 (locked thread) New Sydney Airport Master Plan

(could not find a dedicated SYD thread)

 

[moa999]

Some interesting new renders.
The current single level P1 carpark (after the old one got demolished) will partially become open space.



But looks like the other carparks will be extended and wrap around the train station surface buildings.

Plus one of the early SYD control towers seemingly gets demolished to be replaced by the new terminal building connecting T2 and T3.

 

[clifford]

Well, I hope my granddaughters enoy it before they're too old.

 

[SYD]

AU Govt media release
Kingsford Smith 2045 Master Plan approved

2013 (locked thread) New Sydney Airport Master Plan

(could not find a dedicated SYD thread)

The draft plan was discussed here:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/threads/major-syd-expansion.120758/

 

[markis10]

Plus one of the early SYD control towers seemingly gets demolished to be replaced by the new terminal building connecting T2 and T3.

Be a shame to see it go, built in 1940. I worked in pilot briefing/operational control and search/rescue on the ground floor in the late eighties.


Photo credit Sydney Control Building Tower and QEA LB30 Liberator G-AGKU

 

[SYD]

Be a shame to see it go, built in 1940. I worked in pilot briefing/operational control and search/rescue on the ground floor in the late eighties.
View attachment 518220

Photo credit Sydney Control Building Tower and QEA LB30 Liberator G-AGKU

I remember going to the observation deck to see off friends.

It would good if they could incorporate it into the new structure as an internal feature eg a bar/eatery with some connection to the heritage nature.

In the meantime, closing the gap between T2 & T3 ought to be a good thing and it seemed to one aspect of the plan that was going to happen sooner than later. Along with some extra T1 gates.