Canberra Airport Battles Western Sydney International Airport Competition
Canberra Airport is expanding its international routes and partnering with FlixBus to counter passenger losses to the new Western Sydney International Airport.
The Canberra Airport is implementing new connectivity strategies as the Western Sydney International Airport prepares to begin passenger flights this Sunday. The new Sydney hub has already diverted traffic, with Fiji Airways announcing it will move its direct flights from Canberra to Western Sydney in early 2027 to better serve the local Fijian community.
To mitigate these losses, the airport is diversifying its international offerings. It recently added a Virgin Australia service to Bali and reached a tentative agreement for flights to Nanjing, China, keeping its international destination count near pre-pandemic levels. Qatar Airways also plans to launch services from both Canberra on December 9 and Western Sydney on December 15.
Complementing these aviation efforts, FlixBus is launching a new ground transportation route to link the two regions. The service will run seven days a week, connecting Parramatta, Western Sydney International Airport, Goulburn, and Canberra. Airport leadership maintains that Canberra serves a distinct government, business, and diplomatic travel base that differs from the Western Sydney market.
