On 9 July, flight path changes through Sydney's skies will come into effect, as the first flights prepare for landing at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
The flight path changes, developed through three years of community engagement, will affect aircraft operating from all Sydney's airports including Kingsford Smith, Bankstown and Western Sydney International.
Authorised in June 2025, Sydney's new flight paths have been the subject of more than 50 in-person feedback sessions and more than 8,400 submissions.
A comprehensive community engagement program was subsequently undertaken by Airservices Australia between July and September 2025 to build awareness of the new flight paths, and to seek feedback on Noise Abatement Procedures and proposed noise monitoring locations.
New flight paths for Western Sydney International have been designed to maximise safety as well as balance the growth of the airports with the needs of the community on the ground and will include Reciprocal Runway Operations (RRO) at night, where aircraft take off and land from the same direction.
Consistent with the flight path authorisation, RRO (reciprocal runway operations) take-off and landing arrangements will be utilised whenever possible between 11pm and 5.30am, and when used with the associated noise abatement procedure will reduce aircraft transiting Wallacia, the populated areas of the Blue Mountains area, and the most heavily populated parts of Western Sydney at night.
Airservices Australia has introduced a noise monitoring program for WSI. In addition to nine permanent noise monitors, four temporary noise monitors will be moved around different locations over a five-year period to provide ongoing, responsive monitoring for Western Sydney communities.
Western Sydney residents are also now able to access a live noise monitoring tool for the new airport at: www.webtrak.emsbk.com/wsi3. This website transparently displays live flight activities around the airport and recordings from the noise monitors installed around Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Additionally, an airspace advisory board will also be established to monitor aircraft noise and flight path issues during the early years of the airport's operation.
Landowners in parts of Luddenham, Greendale, Silverdale, Wallacia and Kemps Creek are also invited to apply for noise treatment works, with applications open until April 2028 for residents most impacted by aircraft noise.
To view the map of eligible properties covered by the WSI Noise Insulation program, and review other details and criteria, visit: wsinoiseinsulation.gov.au
Establishing Western Sydney's new airport is a long-term project, with air traffic expected to build over a number of years.
To coordinate Sydney's airspace, Kingsford Smith air traffic control will be joined by the brand-new Digital Aerodrome Service at Western Sydney Airport. Comprising 25 cameras that will act as the 'eyes on the airfield' for air traffic controllers, imagery from the cameras will be relayed to a remote tower centre in Eastern Creek.
The 9 July Sydney airspace changes will happen ahead of the first cargo flights that month, with passenger flights beginning in October.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
"This is a critical next step to ensuring our skies are ready to open to Western Sydney Airport.
"With two major airports sharing Sydney's airspace, there will be a small reshuffle in the skies to make way for new flights coming in and out of Western Sydney.
"We've worked to get the balance right, ensuring Sydney's airports can operate efficiently, while taking nearby residents' concerns about noise seriously and incorporating their feedback into our plans.
"These paths are not physical infrastructure, so our conversations with community and the airports about how they can adapt into the future can be ongoing. Our new airspace advisory board will monitor and respond to aircraft noise and flight path issues during the early years of the airport's operations."
Quotes attributable to the Air Services Australia CEO Rob Sharp:
"Airservices is making a substantial investment in people, technology, community engagement and training to ensure we can support the opening of Australia's first major greenfield airport in decades.
"Our teams are preparing to provide safe and well-planned air traffic control operations through our Digital Aerodrome Service, along with the critical Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting capability which will be at the ready in the event a rapid response is required at the aerodrome."
