Major construction or other projects occurring close to Sydney Airport’s runway or routine and maintenance work can sometimes affect flights to and from the airport. To ensure the safety of aircraft and workers, this means the use of particular runways can be temporarily affected.

New taxiways and aircraft parking bays

In 2021, passenger numbers at SYD hit their lowest point of the COVID pandemic, at just 1% of 2019 levels. As at June 2023, passenger numbers were back to nearly 90% of 2019 levels. Growth is expected to continue as more people choose to fly.

With that recovery, a number of major projects that had been suspended due to COVID have now restarted.

One such project will see two new taxiways constructed, an existing taxiway extended and six new aircraft parking bays constructed in SYD’s south-east sector near the Air Traffic Control Tower and Blu Emu Carpark.

The project, which was originally approved by the Australian Government in 2019, is a $169 million investment to meet forecast aviation demand in 2029 and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.

Maintenance work on main north-south runway

Sydney Airport is carrying out essential maintenance work on the main north-south runway and associated taxiways until 31 March 2025.

The work can only be carried out during the airport’s curfew, between 11pm and 6am and will occur on up to 18 nights.

For 12 of the 18 nights, the maintenance work will only be undertaken on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights. This is because there are few if any overnight freight flights on these nights. This will in turn ensure that any noise impact in Kurnell, La Perouse, Phillip Bay, Little Bay or parts of Botany is minimised. The flights will predominantly be Air Ambulance.

This means the limited number of overnight freight and other aircraft that can operate during these times will instead use the parallel north-south runway.

Commonwealth legislation has always allowed emergency Air Ambulance and a limited number of domestic freight and general aviation flights to operate between 11pm and 6am. The freight carried overnight is typically extremely time-sensitive or high value and includes Australia Post mail, food and perishables, radioactive isotopes and e-commerce.

For the remaining six nights, the work will also need to be undertaken between Monday and Thursday nights. This involves the laying of asphalt as part of the major project referred to above to construct new taxiways and aircraft parking bays.

Using the parallel north-south runway means people living in Kurnell, La Perouse, Little Bay, Phillip Bay or parts of Botany may hear aircraft noise between 11pm and 6am on some nights between now and the end of the year. People living outside these areas may also hear noise.

Contact information

Contact: Mr Ted Plummer

Phone: 0409 072 436

Email: runwaysafety@syd.com.au

If you wish to lodge a formal aircraft noise complaint with Airservices Australia, the Australian Government agency responsible for air traffic management at all of Australia’s major airports, visit their Noise Complaints and Information Service.