February 16, 2025
Sydney Airport Sees Strong Growth and Operational Performance in 2024

Sydney Airport Sees Strong Growth and Operational Performance in 2024

Sydney Airport has reported a stellar performance for 2024, marking a significant resurgence in passenger traffic and operational efficiency.
View over Sydney Airport
Photo Credit: Capture Creative/Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport has reported a stellar performance for 2024, marking a significant resurgence in passenger traffic and operational efficiency.

The fourth quarter of 2024 proved particularly strong, with 11 million passengers traversing the airport’s terminals, a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

This figure represents a 94.4% recovery compared to the record-breaking Q4 of 2019. It signals the airport’s robust rebound from the challenges of recent years.

2024: A Year of Recovery and Growth


The strong Q4 performance capped off a successful year for Sydney Airport (SYD), with over 41 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2024.

This impressive total represents a near-complete recovery, reaching within 6.8% of the all-time high of 44.4 million passengers in 2019.

Specifically, 16.3 million international passengers traveled through the airport in 2024, a substantial 12.1% increase compared to 2023. Domestic passenger numbers also saw positive growth, with over 25 million passengers, a 4.1% increase year-on-year.

An Etihad Airways A380 landing in Sydney.
Damien Aiello, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

International Travel Leads the Way

The resurgence in international travel was a key highlight of the year. Q4 2024 saw a remarkable 7.4% surge in international passenger numbers compared to the same quarter in 2023, with 4.35 million passengers.

This impressive figure represents a 99.1% recovery compared to the previous record quarter for international travel, Q4 2019. The data reveals a growing appetite for international travel among Australians, with 8.4% more citizens venturing overseas compared to Q4 2019.

Furthermore, travel from key markets like South Korea, India, and the Philippines significantly exceeded pre-pandemic levels, indicating the airport’s success in attracting diverse international visitors.

Domestic Travel Also Shows Positive Growth

While international travel stole the spotlight, domestic and regional passenger traffic also demonstrated healthy growth. Q4 2024 saw 6.65 million passengers utilizing the domestic T2 and T3 terminals, a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

This consistent growth in domestic travel underscores the continued importance of Sydney Airport as a hub for both domestic and international journeys.

Qantas and Jetstar aircraft at Sydney Airport.
Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons

Operational Performance


Beyond the impressive passenger numbers, Sydney Airport achieved a record-breaking quarter for operational performance. An astounding 100% of international passengers and 99.9% of domestic passengers cleared security in less than 10 minutes.

This remarkable achievement reflects the airport’s commitment to streamlining processes and minimizing passenger wait times.

Kerbside drop-off times also saw significant improvements. All drop-offs at the domestic terminals occurred within 10 minutes, a marked improvement from the previous quarter. The international terminal also saw a reduction in instances of wait times exceeding 10 minutes.

Inbound immigration processing also improved significantly, with 90% of passengers clearing immigration within 37 minutes, an almost 12% improvement compared to the previous quarter.

This improvement, particularly during the busiest time for international travel, highlights the effectiveness of Sydney Airport’s ongoing collaboration with the Australian Border Force (ABF).

The ongoing project to consolidate ticket kiosks and e-gates, along with the installation of 40 new kiosks, further demonstrates the airport’s proactive approach to enhancing the passenger experience.

Looking Ahead to 2025


Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton expressed his satisfaction with the 2024 results, highlighting the airport’s significant contribution to the national economy. He emphasized the strong momentum in international travel and the addition of new airline partners, expressing optimism for 2025.

Mr. Charlton also reiterated the airport’s commitment to operational efficiency, focusing on maximizing the performance of existing infrastructure before embarking on costly new developments.

He stressed the importance of enhancing the passenger experience and improving on-time performance, with a strong pipeline of projects designed to support future growth.

Sydney Airport’s strategic approach, prioritizing both passenger experience and sustainable growth, positions it well for continued success in the coming year.

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