Western Sydney International Airport opens to passengers

A Jetstar flight left the curfew-free airport for the Gold Coast just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday, ABC News Australia reported. The first international flight, bound for New Zealand, is scheduled for Monday morning.

The airport at Badgerys Creek, about 60 km west of central Sydney, will operate 24 hours a day, while the city's current airport can host take-offs and landings only after 6 a.m. and until 11 p.m., Reuters reported via The Straits Times.

Why it matters: Round-the-clock operations give airlines more scheduling options in Australia's most populous city.