Sydney, Australia’s new airport officially welcomes passengers, costing more than 100 billion yuan to take off and land 24 hours a day

(Central News Agency, Sydney, comprehensive foreign news report on the 25th) The new airport "West Sydney International Airport" in Sydney, Australia's most populous city, was officially opened to passengers today. Prime Minister Albanese said this was a milestone for Sydney. The new airport took many years of planning and cost 5.6 billion Australian dollars (approximately NT$128.3 billion).

Reuters reported that Western Sydney International Airport (Western Sydney International Airport), located in Badgerys Creek, about 60 kilometers west of Sydney's city center, will operate 24 hours a day, allowing airlines to serve this fast-growing and ethnically diverse population.

The original airport was relatively close to Sydney's central business district, but flight departure and landing times were limited to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Compared with other major Australian cities such as Melbourne, airlines' flight arrangement options were therefore limited.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement: "For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia has opened a major new airport. This is a milestone that has been decades in the making."

"I am very proud to announce the official opening of the airport," he said.

The airport said in a statement that Western Sydney International Airport can accommodate more than 80 million passengers each year. Jetstar, a low-cost airline under Qantas, is scheduled to fly its first departure flight today, with the destination being the Gold Coast.

Before the new airport launches passenger flight services, cargo flights began operations in July this year.

The airport covers an area of ​​1,780 hectares. The land was purchased by the Australian federal government in the 1980s. After 7 years of construction and 15 years of planning, it will be completed in July 2025.