One of the world’s oldest airports is getting a £3.1 billion upgrade – with flights almost doubling

Sydney Airport is about to get a major glow up (Picture: Getty) The busiest airport in Australia has just received the green light for a multi-billion expansion project – expected to take 20 years to complete. Sydney Airport, or Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, is one of the oldest international airports in the world, having first opened in 1919. A major transport hub serving around 16 million passengers per year, it’s also the official base for Qantas, the largest airline in the country. And it’s about to have a serious glow up. Sydney Airport’s ‘Master Plan 2045’ is a £3.1 billion project that will completely transform the site. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. One of the biggest changes will include expanding the international terminal and redeveloping two domestic terminals, a move that officials say will allow flights to increase from 75,000 per year to 130,000. The airport’s ‘Master Plan’ has been in the works for years now (Picture: Sydney Airport) The airport’s plan has been in circulation for some time now, with the preliminary draft released to the public in September 2025. However, it’s only now that the plan has been officially approved by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, meaning work can begin. By 2045, the airport will be able to welcome more than 72 million passengers a year. International passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 36.4 million annually, with domestic and regional passengers set to increase to 36.2 million. On top of this, the expansion is expected to generate around £51 billion in annual economic activity and increase direct employment at the airport to more than 105,000 jobs. What is going to change at Sydney Airport? Three terminals will be upgraded, T1, T2, and T3, so that the airport can improve passenger experience and boost efficiency. The refurbishment will include better connections between terminals, new facilities such as extra parking stands, advanced security screening technology and a number of other modern amenities. Sydney Airport’s ambitious plan should transform both domestic and international travellers’ experience using the airport (Picture: Sydney Airport) Some of the technological upgrades at the airport will be finished by the end of this year, including a £104million update to the T2 domestic terminal with new security scanners and self-service bag drops. Of course, Sydney isn’t the only place embracing smart technology. For example, Hamad International Airport (HIA), Qatar Airways, and technology company SITA recently partnered to introduce facial recognition for passengers in Doha. Labelled one of the ‘largest biometric passenger rollouts of its kind in the Middle East, and globally’, the new service connects 700 ‘touch points’ across the airport – allowing travellers to move through check-in, security, lounges and boarding without the usual cycle of document checks. Similarly, Emirates launched its own biometric check-in in Dubai in November 2025. The airport held a number of public consultations shortly after the plans were released (Picture: Sydney Airport) While Sydney’s Master Plan doesn’t explicitly indicate that it will be implementing facial recognition, recent data has shown that more and more travellers are actively embracing smarter security protocols. In fact, according to the 2025 IATA Global Passenger survey, half of passengers (50%) have used biometrics at some point in their airport journey – with 85% of those users reporting high levels of satisfaction. Alongside these improvements, the plan also includes building additional hotels and ‘accommodation facilities’, introducing a number of new shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars. Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton told news outlets: ‘Approval of Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045 provides a clear pathway to plan for future demand and invest in the infrastructure Sydney will need over the next two decades. ‘As Australia’s international gateway, this plan ensures we can continue supporting tourism, trade, investment and jobs while delivering the capacity needed for future generations’. Our Top Shopping Picks Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you Arrow MORE: Loganair pulls all flights from UK airport leaving its future uncertain Arrow MORE: ‘You could hear metal shearing off when the train derailed – then the screams’ Arrow MORE: Full list of all 42 London bus routes affected by heatwave strikes this weekend The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.