Push for planes to keep landing before curfew at Sydney Airport

The airport warns that international airlines may abandon us if we don’t keep a rule that lets planes land before curfew ends.

Sydney Airport is pushing to keep a rule that lets some planes land an hour before curfew ends, warning international airlines may abandon us otherwise.

An exemption that allowed some aircraft to land at the airport before the overnight curfew ends every morning will end with the opening of a competitor in 2026.

Kingsford Smith Airport’s shoulder period, lasting from 5am-6am, and 11pm-midnight, will be waved goodbye when the doors of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), located in Luddenham and Badgerys Creek, opens.

However, Sydney Airport argues that airlines’ global flight schedules aren’t being accounted for in the decision to end the exemption. In particular, Heathrow Airport in London required the ability to land at Mascot between 5am and 6am during the northern summer.

Those flights then depart Sydney Airport and return to London Heathrow later the same morning.

In its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for WSI’s airspace and flight path design, Sydney Airport calls for action, points out that these services have operated for decades and there’s a need to accommodate them or we will miss out greatly.

Airplane parked at Sydney International Airport. Picture: iStock

It states: “Preventing those flights from doing so would cause significant disruptions for those airlines and the travelling public.

“If these flights are unable to land at Sydney Airport, they will not automatically go to WSI as airlines may instead choose not to fly to New South Wales altogether, or even Australia, impacting tourism and trade.

“If they do move to WSI, this simply moves the noise impact during the current curfew shoulder periods to the communities around WSI.”

Airlines including Qantas, British Airways and Singapore Airways currently land during the shoulder period. There’s a flight cap of 24 a week during the morning shoulder period, due to regulations, and zero in the evening shoulder.

Sydney Airport said there’s a need to review this, and bring it in line with other countries. There's also an urgent need to boost capacity.

“There is an opportunity to lift capacity at Sydney Airport to the benefit of its passengers and with minimal impact on local communities,” it said. “Sydney Airport considers that existing capacity constraints at Sydney Airport are driven predominantly by outdated regulations which apply to the airport, and that these require urgent reform.”

Western Sydney International Airport, completion on the surface construction of WSI’s runway. Photo: Supplied

It also stated that the current operating restrictions – and flight paths – that apply to the airport were put in place in 1997.

These operating restrictions have remained unchanged for over a quarter of a century despite increased demand for air travel and significant technological advances in aviation, noise mitigation, and air navigation technology.

Sydney Airport wants more options for international carriers. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

It also stated it has recognised the importance of minimising noise on the community.

“Sydney Airport has commenced work on identifying a range of noise mitigation options (including the use of modern air navigation technology and other measures) which could be trialled at Sydney Airport.

“Sydney Airport proposes to pragmatically work with its airline partners and the Australian Government for support to trial these initiatives as soon as possible.”

Spokesperson for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King told news.com.au the Government had “no current plans” to review Sydney Airport’s curfew, however, there have been reforms to make best use of takeoff and landing slots.

“The Australian Government is committed to the efficient utilisation of Sydney Airport, which plays a key role in Australia’s air transport network,” King said.

“To that end, the Government announced reforms to the Sydney Airport Demand Management Scheme, to make best use of take-off and landing slots.

“The Government has no current plans to review the curfew at Sydney Airport.”