Sydney Airport's 2045 master plan approved, paving way for single terminal

The Australian government has signed off on Sydney Airport's Master Plan 2045, giving the airport a long-term framework for redeveloping its domestic precinct. The approval was granted by Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King on August 14, 2026.

The plan's central feature is a proposed overhaul that would combine domestic, regional and international operations, currently housed separately, into a single integrated terminal. Airport management says the change is meant to simplify the passenger journey as traffic increases over the coming decades.

Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton said the sign-off provides a clear pathway for planning future demand and for investing in infrastructure the city will need in coming years. He added that the plan incorporates sustainability goals, including efforts to limit environmental impact and to coordinate with nearby communities.

According to the master plan's forecasts, Sydney Airport, known by the code SYD, will serve more than 72 million passengers a year by 2045. That total would be roughly split between 36.4 million international travelers and 36.2 million domestic and regional passengers.

The airport also projects its annual economic contribution will climb to about $70 billion by that year, with direct employment on site expected to surpass 105,000 jobs.

The document additionally includes a five-year environmental strategy, though further detail on that component was not fully outlined in available material.

No construction timeline or cost estimate for the terminal redevelopment itself was specified.