5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“I was in First Class on American Airlines (for work) and the Qantas lounge was very phenomenal, I had such a good breakfast there.”
Matt B5★ on Google
Airports / Australia / SYD
Large airport · SYD
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport.
Sydney (Mascot), Australia · 21 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
18,913 ratings
0
Operators based
21
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Sydney (Mascot), AustraliaELEV 21 FTLarge airportScheduled service
3.8
Google rating
18,913
Google reviews
ratings on Google
21
Field elevation
feet above sea level
9
Nearest alternate
nm to BWU
Field standing
9 nm
To the nearest alternate
Sydney Bankstown Airport (BWU), 5 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Sydney (Mascot), Australia, Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (YSSY / SYD) operates as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 21 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SYD for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Sydney Bankstown Airport (BWU, 9 nm), Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI, 23 nm), and Camden Airport (CDU, 25 nm). With 3 runways, the longest 12,999-foot paved runway, SYD can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Planning a trip? The Sydney, Australia destination guide covers routes, aircraft options, and what to expect on the ground. In directories and search listings it also appears under Kingsford Smith and Mascot. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Sydney (Mascot).
Run an FBO at YSSY? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“You’ll find plenty of cafes, fast food chains, and casual restaurants, making it easy to grab a decent meal before your flight.”
Anh Quân Lê5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
YSSY
IATA
SYD
FAA / Local
YSSY
Elevation
21 ft
Coordinates
33.9461° S · 151.1770° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Australia fields
state range 7–4,260 ft
At 21 ft, SYD sits lower than 91% of the 191 Australia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 12,999 ft
- 16R/34L12,999 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 07/258,300 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 16L/34R7,999 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,999 ft
SYD's 12,999 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 9nmBWUSydney Bankstown AirportSydney
- 23nmWSIWestern Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) AirportSydney
- 25nmCDUCamden AirportCobbitty
- 28nmXRHRAAF Base RichmondRichmond
- 42nmWOLShellharbour AirportAlbion Park Rail
- 68nmNOANaval Air Station Nowra - HMAS AlbatrossNowra Hill
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapYSSY · Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport · Sydney (Mascot), Australia
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SYD on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,412 nm | 10h 40m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 6,388 nm | 15h 15m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,452 nm | 15h 24m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,517 nm | 15h 33m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,714 nm | 16h 1m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,734 nm | 16h 4m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 6,791 nm | 16h 12m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,970 nm | 16h 37m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SYD?
- Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport's longest paved runway is 12,999 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SYD?
- Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 12,999 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SYD?
- The closest alternate is Sydney Bankstown Airport (BWU), about 9 nm away, followed by Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) at 23 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SYD to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 10h 40m (4,412 nm), Anchorage about 15h 15m (6,388 nm), San Francisco about 15h 24m (6,452 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.