Monday 27 October 2025

Sydney Airport welcomed 10.68 million passengers in Q3 (July to September) 2025, representing 3.4 percent growth on the same period in 2024.

International passengers increased 6.6 percent on the same period last year, with 4.28 million travellers passing through the T1 International terminal.

At its current trajectory, Sydney Airport is on track to record its busiest year ever for international travel with 12.55 million passengers year to date. This result has been driven by the introduction of new services and a 4 percent year-on-year uplift on international seat capacity.

Domestic and regional traffic grew 1.4 percent on the same period last year, with 6.4 million passengers travelling through T2 and T3.

International passenger and network growth

The ongoing growth in international travel to and from Sydney reflects the recent expansion of Australia’s bilateral air services agreements, which has increased airline competition and passenger choice, and contributed to more competitive international airfares.

Overseas travel by Australians rose 2.0 percent compared to the same period in 2024, while inbound travel from key markets continued to strengthen.

Chinese passport holders recorded 11.6 percent growth on Q3 2024, the strongest quarterly rate of growth over the past year.

Arrivals by British passport holders increased 26.1 percent, while Indonesia and Japan grew 12.9 percent and 7.2 percent respectively. The growth in British arrivals reflected the impact of the British and Irish Lions rugby tour and additional capacity through the Middle East and Europe, supported by new and expanded airline partnerships.

In June, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways commenced their first long-haul service from Sydney to Doha, providing new one-stop connectivity to the United Kingdom and Europe. The partnership now delivers up to 70 weekly flights between Australia and Doha.

Etihad Airways increased services from daily to ten per week from 1 July 2025, adding a 20 percent lift in premium cabin capacity.

Turkish Airlines, which launched its Istanbul-Sydney service via Kuala Lumpur in November 2024, expanded to five-weekly flights from mid-June and will increase to six-weekly from the end of October. The service represents the first step toward establishing Australia’s first non-stop connection to Türkiye.

These network enhancements have driven momentum for inbound travel from the United Kingdom and reinforced Sydney Airport’s position as Australia’s gateway to Europe and beyond.

Qantas expanded its network during the quarter and introduced the Airbus A321XLR on the Sydney to Melbourne route in September, marking the aircraft’s Australian debut. The new aircraft delivers up to 30 percent lower fuel burn and reduced emissions, with the range to support future services to Asia and the Pacific.

The Qantas Group also announced additional capacity between Australia and New Zealand in 2026, including 79,000 extra seats on Sydney-Auckland services and 5,000 additional seats on Sydney-Christchurch flights during February and March. The airline also reinstated A380 operations on the Sydney-Dallas Fort Worth route, now operating up to four times per week and supported by Boeing 787-9 services on remaining days.

China Southern Airlines announced record capacity on the Sydney to Guangzhou route, expanding to four daily services during the 2025 to 2026 summer peak. The uplift will add almost 44,000 seats, reinforcing Sydney Airport’s role as Australia’s key gateway to China and supporting continued growth across North Asian markets.

Malaysia Airlines also enhanced operations during the quarter, introducing its new Airbus A330neo on the Sydney to Kuala Lumpur route ahead of a third daily service launching in November 2025. The new aircraft improves comfort and fuel efficiency, increasing annual capacity on the route to more than 630,000 seats.

Operational performance

Operational performance remained consistent through the quarter, with 99.9 percent of domestic passengers and 99.1 percent of international passengers clearing security in less than 10 minutes.

Wait times for inbound immigration also improved, with 90 percent of passengers clearing within 35 minutes, a 16.7 percent improvement on Q3 2024. Security processing times have also shown consistent gains over the past two years, improving by 27 percent since Q3 2023, even as passenger volumes have risen by 6.5 percent. These results demonstrate sustained efficiency improvements despite higher passenger numbers and major construction activity across the precinct.

On-time performance (OTP) remained stable through the quarter. While Q3 results were slightly below the same period in 2024, year-to-date reliability remains ahead, with domestic OTP up 1.4 percent and international up 3.0 percent.

Kerbside drop-off performance at the T1 International improved quarter on quarter with 14 days where traffic wait times peaked above 10 minutes, compared to 18 days in Q2 2025. Overall kerbside performance remains below 2024 levels, and a number of short and long term options are under review to better manage congestion in the international precinct.

Infrastructure delivery and future planning

During Q3, Sydney Airport continued to deliver on its multi-year capital investment program with upgrades across all terminals designed to boost capacity, streamline processing, and enhance the overall passenger experience.

At T1 International, eleven of the fifteen new security lanes featuring advanced CT scanner technology are now operational, up from nine in Q2 2025. The new lanes are already increasing passenger throughput by 100% compared to the previous lane output.

Once complete, the upgrade will boost screening capacity by nearly 30 percent and allow passengers to keep laptops, liquids, and aerosols in their carry-on bags.

Construction also progressed on the $200 million Terminal 2 redevelopment. Two of the seven new security lanes featuring advanced CT scanner technology are now operational, with the remaining five due by the end of the year.

Works are advancing on new self-service check-in kiosks and bag drop systems that will streamline the journey from kerb to gate to as little as fifteen minutes once complete.

Installation of next generation checked baggage screening equipment continued across T1, T2, and T3, with delivery on track for completion by the end of Q4 2025.

In August, Sydney Airport supported the launch of the Digital Incoming Passenger Card trial with Qantas and the Australian Border Force, simplifying arrival processing for eligible passengers.

Ground transport options continued to improve during the quarter. After a successful 12-month trial, Uber’s PIN-matching technology was approved for ongoing use at the T1 International Terminal, following more than 300,000 completed trips and measurable gains in wait times and traffic flow.

The NSW Government also confirmed a two-year trial of capped taxi fares between Sydney Airport and the CBD from 3 November 2025, with fares capped at $60 for standard taxis and $80 for maxi taxis.

Sydney Airport is also investing $20 million in new parking and access technology rolling out through 2025, including ticketless parking, licence-plate recognition, and real-time guidance signs to make access easier for all passengers.

The airport also unveiled several commercial initiatives during the quarter. In September, Sydney Airport launched the Luxury Digital Concierge, an online platform connecting travellers directly with luxury brands including Dior, Prada, Saint Laurent, and Tiffany & Co.

In August, the airport announced the first phase of the T3 Domestic Terminal redevelopment, introducing 14 new dining and retail concepts opening from late 2025, including Maggio’s, Slim’s Quality Burgers, and Loulou.

Sydney Airport also released its Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2045, outlining a long-term vision that forecasts 72 million passengers a year, a $70 billion annual economic contribution, and more than 105,000 direct jobs by 2045.

The plan is now on public exhibition, with feedback invited from the community, government, airlines, and industry partners.

Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO, said: “Q3 was another quarter of steady growth, supported by inbound demand from key markets including the United Kingdom, China, and Indonesia. The recovery in these markets, combined with the continued return of airline capacity, reflects the strength of Sydney’s position as Australia’s international gateway.

“This performance demonstrates the value of our partnerships with airlines, the Australian Border Force, and government agencies as we work together to deliver more efficient and seamless passenger journeys. It also shows that the investments we are making in screening technology, terminal upgrades, and digital services are improving the travel experience across all terminals.

“What’s particularly pleasing is that these results were achieved while major infrastructure works continued across the precinct. Our operational teams have maintained consistent performance and reliability through a period of high activity, ensuring passengers continue to enjoy an efficient and welcoming airport experience.”

Passenger and operational performance data

Click here for the Q3 passenger and performance data.