Sydney opens new international terminal

Sydney Airport today officially opened the expanded and upgraded departures level of its international terminal.

The upgraded terminal was officially opened this morning by the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese. Construction on the refurbished terminal commenced in 2007 by lead contractor Bovis Lend Lease and has involved:

• Expanding the departures level by 7300 square metres;
• Building a new security screening area; 
• Refurbishing 30,000 square metres of the existing departures level;
• Opening a new outbound hall for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service;
• Creating a new forum for increased waiting areas and food, beverage and retail outlets; and
• Building a new landside food court.

With Sydney currently handling 60 A380 movements weekly, making it one of the busiest A380 airports in the world, the project also included the commissioning a new arrivals level baggage reclaim carousel for increased A380 capacity.

In 2009 Sydney Airport processed 10.6 million international passengers, and that number is forecast to reach 20 million by 2020 and around 30 million by 2029. Sydney Airport’s CEO Russell Balding said the international terminal upgrade provides a better travel experience for Sydney’s growing number of international passengers.

“Our aim is to provide travellers with an enhanced travel experience,” Balding said. “It is a strategically important investment that will leave visitors with a positive and lasting impression of Sydney.

"Passengers will continue to benefit from ongoing investment, with a further $1 billion in planned capital expenditure over the next five years.”

The completed work on Sydney’s departures level is part of a wider $500 million investment in the international terminal.