Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport, or Kingsford Smith Airport as it is sometimes referred, can be found in the Sydney suburb of Mascot adjacent to Botany Bay.
It is Australia’s leading airport serving 33 million customers annually and nearly half of all scheduled flights in Australia use Sydney Airport.
The airport has three runways – ‘East-West,’ ‘North-South,’ and ‘Third Runway.’ Due to a curfew imposed to help contain the airport noise, planes only take off and land between the hours of 06:00 and 23:00, with limited numbers during ‘shoulder periods’ between 05:00 and 06:00 and 23:00 and 24:00.
Airlines
42 carriers fly international routes out of Sydney including: Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Austral, Air Canada, Air China, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines/JALways, Jetstar, Korean Air, LAN Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas (Sydney is its major hub), Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, United Airlines, V Australia, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Pacific Blue, Polynesia Blue and Viva Macau.
8 carriers cover the domestic routes: Aeropelican, Air Link, Jetstar, Qantas, Qantas Link, REX, Tiger Airways, and Virgin Blue.
Flights
The airport handles nearly 45% of international air travel traffic in Australia. The most popular international routes being to: Auckland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Los Angeles, London, Christchurch, Tokyo, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur.
The most travelled domestic routes are to: Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Cairns, Hobart, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Ballina and Albury.
Hotels
The nearest hotel, less than half-a-kilometre away, is the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport.
Less than two kilometres away are the Stamford Plaza Sydney and the Hotel Ibis Sydney Airport.
Within six kilometres are several other options which you can check out here.
Parking
Sydney Airport has short-term and long-term parking options available for both domestic and international travellers. Or drop your car off at valet parking and let someone else deal with it. Whatever your preference, there is a parking solution to suit your needs and budget. Further details can be found here.
Disabled parking spots are also available. Further information on parking for those with special needs may be found at the Sydney Airport site.
Lounges
Terminal 1, the International Terminal, has lounges for Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Emirates Airlines and two for Qantas Airways – The Qantas Club and the First Class Lounge.
Terminal 2 has lounges for Qantas Club, Virgin Blue and Rex Airlines.
Terminal 3 has a large Qantas Club Lounge as well as dedicated Business Class and Chairman’s lounges.
Terminals
Sydney Airport has three terminals – one International and two Domestic. The International Terminal is separated from the other two by a runway. There are several options for transfer between terminals including T-Bus, Taxi, Airport Link train service, and Qantas and Virgin Blue Transfer services. It is also possible to walk between terminals.
Terminal 1, the International Terminal, sits on the north-west side of the airport. There are 29 gates in total and it can accommodate the Airbus A380 - which currently flies routes to Singapore (Singapore Airlines), London via Singapore and Los Angeles (Qantas), and Dubai and Auckland (Emirates). On the top floor of the terminal is a rooftop observation deck with floors below dedicated to Arrivals, Departures and offices.
Terminal 1 is currently undergoing an A$500 million refurbishment, due for completion in 2010. This will add an additional 7300 square metres of space for passenger areas and shops and will also bring a new baggage handling system.
Terminal 2 lies on the north-east side of the airport and has 15 gates. Terminal 2 is for domestic flights by Virgin Blue, Jetstar, Regional Express, Aeropelican Air Services, Tiger Airways and some services from Qantaslink.
Terminal 3 is known as the Qantas Terminal. It has 14 gates and is used exclusively by Qantas and Qantaslink for domestic flights.
East of Terminal 2 is a fourth, unused passenger terminal which formerly served Virgin Blue and Impulse Airlines.
Departures
Terminal 1 has enough shopping and eating/drinking options to get you through even the longest lay-over. There are more than 30 restaurant/bar options and a variety of retail outlets offering health & beauty, communications, electronics, entertainment, fashion, florists, foreign exchange, gifts, sports & adventure and tax & duty free shopping.
Terminal 2 has over 20 places to enjoy a drink, a snack, a coffee or a meal while waiting for your flight. There are also plenty of shops selling Australian and international fashions, gifts, beauty & health items, books, electronics and more. Further information on Sydney Airport shopping can be found at www.sydneyairportshopping.com.au
Terminal 3 has no shops or restaurants of its own, but is in close proximity to Terminal 2 and all of its amenities.
Dropping-off passengers at both the Domestic and International Terminals is possible; however you may only stop for two minutes and you are not allowed to leave your car.
Current Departures information for international travellers is available International Departures page and for domestic travellers at Domestic Departures page.
Arrivals
If you are being collected by car, the pick-up area for arriving domestic passengers is located across Keith Smith Avenue from Terminal 2 and across Shiers Avenue from Terminal 3. Free parking is available for 10 minutes.
There is no designated pick-up area for the International Terminal. You are required to park your car in the International Car Park and proceed into the terminal.
Car hire services can be found in the Arrivals area of both Domestic and International Terminals. Red Spot, Thrifty, Europcar, Budget, Avis and Hertz are all represented.
Current Arrivals information for international travellers is available along with current information for domestic travellers.
Transportation
There are several transportation options to get you to or from the Sydney Airport.
Rail Transport – the airport is connected with the regular suburban train services via the Airport Link underground rail line. At the International Terminal, the rail station is located below the terminal while at the Domestic Terminal, the station is located under the car park between the two terminals. For information on timetables and fares, check out the good people at Airport Link.
Sydney Airport is linked by the Sydney bus system which connects the eastern suburbs, Inner West and St George areas with the airport. General information about fares, timetables and connections to other parts of Sydney are available at their website.
Private shuttle buses also connect the airport with most of the major hotels.
Taxis can be found in front of each of the terminals at sheltered taxi ranks. An A$3 surcharge, in the form of an airport toll, will be added to all fares from one of the airport taxi ranks. A single journey to the Sydney Central Business District (non-peak time) is approximately A$50.