Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport has three terminals. Terminals 2 and 3 are combined in one complex on the east side of the airport, while Terminal 1 is located on the west side of the airport. The individual concourses are not connected.
- Terminal 1 - serves all international departures and arrivals
- Terminal 2 - domestic flights of FlyPelican, Jetstar, Link Airways, Rex Airways, Virgin Australia
- Terminal 3 - Qantas, QantasLink domestic flights
A map of Sydney Airport highlighting the terminals is available here:
To view official airport maps for each terminal, visit this website: sydneyairport.com.au/maps.
Transfer between flights
Sydney Airport is very easy to transfer if you only transfer within one terminal.
Below is the procedure if you have purchased both flights under one booking and already hold a boarding pass for the connecting flight.
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International <-> International
All transfers between two international flights (e.g. Sinagapur - Sydney - Auckland) will take place within Terminal 1.
After disembarking, follow the "Flight Connections" signs to the security checkpoint set aside exclusively for transfer passengers. Queues here tend to be 10 minutes maximum.
After that you will be in the departure gate area.
- Security check - yes
- Passport and customs control - no
- Checked baggage - will be transferred automatically
- Net transfer time between planes - 20 to 45 minutes
International -> Domestic
If you arrive from overseas and continue on a domestic flight within Australia, you will always be transferred from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 or 3.
Flights with Qantas
On arrival, you will go through passport control, collect your baggage and proceed through customs to the arrivals hall.
Follow the "Qantas Domestic Transfer" signs which will take you to a special counter where you will check in your baggage for your connecting domestic flight, still in International Terminal 1.
You will then go through security and take the free shuttle bus that runs on the tarmac directly to the departure gates of Domestic Terminal 3. The bus runs roughly every 10-20 minutes from approximately 6:00 to 21:40.
- Security check - yes
- Passport and customs control - yes
- Checked baggage - you must collect
- Net transfer time between planes - 60 to 120 minutes (depending mainly on the queue at passport control)
Flights with other airlines
Upon arrival, you will go through passport control, collect your baggage and proceed through customs to the arrivals hall.
Go outside the airport building and find the orange sign for the shuttle bus between the terminals marked "T-Bus". This only runs on the public section on normal roads.
The T-Bus is free and runs every 15 minutes from 5:30 to 21:30. The journey between terminals takes 10 minutes.
At the domestic terminal you check your luggage and go through security to the departure gates.
- Security check - yes
- Passport and customs control - yes
- Checked baggage - you must collect
- Net transfer time between planes - 75 to 135 minutes (depending mainly on the queue at passport control)
Domestic -> International
From Australian cities you will always arrive at terminal 3 (Qantas) or terminal 2 (other flights). For international departures you need to move to terminal 1.
Flights with Qantas
On arrival, stay in the transit area and head to departure gate 15. From here, free shuttle buses run along the tarmac directly to the Terminal 1 transit area. You will go through security and passport control before entering the departure gate area (usually 5 minutes maximum).
The bus runs approximately every 10-20 minutes from approximately 6:00 to 21:40.
- Security check - yes
- Passport and customs control - yes
- Checked baggage - will be transferred automatically
- Net transfer time between flights - 45 to 90 minutes
Follow the "Qantas Domestic Transfer" signage which will take you to a special counter to check in your baggage for your connecting domestic flight, still at International Terminal 1.
Flights with other airlines
Upon arrival, exit the transit area.
Walk outside the airport building and look for the orange sign for the inter-terminal shuttle bus marked "T-Bus". This only runs on the public section on normal roads.
The T-Bus is free and runs every 15 minutes from 5:30 to 21:30. The journey between terminals takes 10 minutes.
At the domestic terminal you check your luggage and go through security to the departure gates.
- Security check - yes
- Passport and customs control - yes
- Checked baggage - will be transferred automatically (in most cases)
- Net transfer time between flights - 60 to 105 minutes
Domestic <-> Domestic
The easiest transfer is between two domestic flights. If you have flights on one booking, you will always connect within one terminal (either 2 or 3).
When you get off the plane, you'll find yourself right in the departure gate area where you just need to find your connecting flight.
- Security check - no
- Passport and customs control - no
- Checked baggage - will be transferred automatically
- Net transfer time between planes - 5 to 20 minutes