Sydney Airport expansion and redevelopment

The Australian government has approved the Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045, a 20-year expansion project intended to increase annual capacity to over 72 million passengers. The redevelopment is expected to contribute approximately $70 billion AUD annually to the economy and support more than 105,000 new jobs.

A key element of the plan is the merger of the T2 and T3 domestic terminals into a single precinct. This area will include up to 12 ‘swing gates’ that can switch between domestic and international operations, facilitating shorter international routes to locations such as New Zealand, Bali, and the Pacific Islands.

Other planned upgrades include a northern extension to Terminal 1 for baggage reclaim and a southern expansion for passenger processing. Construction is scheduled to begin in stages starting in 2028, with the first integrated swing gates expected to be operational in the early 2030s. Current flight caps, curfews, and noise-sharing arrangements will be maintained.

Recent details regarding the plan indicate that by 2045, passenger movements are forecast to reach 72.6 million per year, representing a 123 per cent increase in domestic and regional travel and a 44 per cent increase in international passengers compared to 2024. Freight handling is also expected to more than double, rising from 600,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually.

As part of the Eastern Expansion Programme, which is expected to cost over A$3 billion, Sydney Airport has appointed Multiplex to conduct early contractor involvement (ECI) works for the first project package. This initial phase includes the redevelopment of Terminals 2 and 3, new airside apron and taxiway infrastructure, baggage handling upgrades, and improved logistics facilities.