Inbound capacity

In the 2024–25 financial year, NSW international aviation capacity (10,507,787 seats – up 0.8 per cent versus the 2023-24 financial year) accounted for 38.9 per cent of all international seats into Australia, ranking the state first nationally.

While international travel continued to recover, the pace of growth moderated, with capacity increasing by 0.8 per cent during the period.

Seat capacity remained 4.4 per cent below the pre-COVID-19 levels recorded in the 2018–19 financial year.

The months with international aviation capacity closest to full recovery were January (99.3 per cent), February (99.2 per cent) and June (98.4 per cent).

In the 2024–25 financial year, the five leading airlines by international seat capacity into NSW were Qantas, Jetstar, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.

Qantas maintained its top position, while Jetstar rose to second
place, overtaking Emirates. Singapore Airlines also moved up one rank, while Air New Zealand dropped one position.

In the 2024–25 financial year, airlines operated flights from more than 50 international destinations to Sydney Airport.

The top five origin airports by inbound seat volume were:

  • Singapore (1,122,541)
  • Auckland (917,471)
  • Hong Kong (547,757)
  • Dubai (531,794)
  • Los Angeles (509,607).

The 2024–25 financial year also saw notable network expansions at Sydney Airport.

For the first time, Juneyao Air and Turkish Airlines commenced commercial operations to Sydney from Shanghai and Istanbul respectively.

Other existing or returning carriers also expanded new routes to Sydney:

  • Jetstar: Port Vila, Hamilton
  • China Southern Airlines
  • Beijing Daxing
  • Virgin Australia: Doha
  • Hong Kong Airlines: Hong Kong

Inbound traffic

In the 2024–25 financial year, NSW recorded 7,160,227 inbound international O&D (origin & destination) passengers, reflecting an increase from the 2023–24 financial year.

However, volumes remained below pre-COVID-19 2018–19 financial year levels.

In the 2024–25 financial year, the top three international source countries for O&D passengers to NSW were China, New Zealand and the United States.

China reclaimed the top position, surpassing New Zealand, which led in both 2023–24 and 2018–19 financial years. The United States maintained its consistent ranking as the third-largest international source market across all three periods.