Sydney Airport is on the runway to record its busiest year ever for international travel.

Almost 4.3 million international travellers passed through the T1 International terminal from July to September 2025, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year.

Chinese passport holders recorded 11.6 per cent growth, the strongest quarterly rate of growth over the past year.

Arrivals by British passport holders increased 26.1 per cent, while Indonesia and Japan grew 12.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively.

The growth in British arrivals reflected the impact of the British & Irish Lions Tour, supported proudly by Destination NSW, and additional capacity through the Middle East and Europe, supported by new and expanded airline partnerships.

The NSW Government's Aviation Attraction Fund, delivered by Destination NSW, has fuelled new and expanded routes for Sydney Airport, which welcomed a four per cent year-on-year uplift on international seat capacity during the latest period.

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.

China Southern Airlines announced record capacity on the Sydney to Guangzhou route, expanding to four daily services during the 2025-26 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.

In June, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways also commenced their first long-haul service between Doha and Sydney, which 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.

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.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton 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.”

Streamlining the passenger experience

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, 11 of the 15 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 per cent compared to the previous lane output.

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

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.

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.

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