New flight paths have been released as part of airspace changes linked to the opening of Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport in 2026 — and they could have an impact on parts of Sydney’s Inner West.
These changes aren’t just about WSI. They affect how Sydney Airport (Mascot) will operate too, with some flight paths shifting to make room for the new airport. The total number of flights isn’t going up — but some suburbs will get more planes overhead, while others may get fewer.
Here’s what’s proposed, what’s changing, and what it means for homebuyers.
Inner West Aircraft Noise: What’s Changing with the New Airport?
The new airspace design reflects how Sydney’s skies will be shared between two major airports. While WSI flights won’t fly low over the Inner West, changes to how Sydney Airport routes its planes could affect several Inner West suburbs.
Some areas may be newly affected by takeoff noise, while others may experience a reduction — but many will continue to deal with aircraft arriving into Sydney Airport, which isn’t changing.
Suburbs Affected by an Increase in Takeoff Activity
Routing changes mean that some suburbs will now sit under busier departure corridors from Sydney Airport than they did before. These include:
Marrickville
Dulwich Hill
Ashfield
Croydon
Hurlstone Park
Earlwood
These areas may experience several flights per day — particularly during peak hours — as aircraft follow new or adjusted tracks that shift takeoff traffic into different parts of the sky.
Suburbs That May See a Reduction in Takeoff Noise
Other suburbs, which currently get more aircraft departing Sydney Airport, may see a drop in takeoff-related noise under the new design:
Stanmore
Petersham
Annandale
Leichhardt
These areas are not under the proposed new corridors, so could benefit from a quieter overhead environment — depending on how the final routing is implemented in practice.
Why Some Suburbs Will Hear More Planes (and Others Less)
It’s important to understand that the overall number of flights across Sydney isn’t expected to increase dramatically. The change is mostly about redistribution — not more aircraft, just different flight paths.
Most departures from Sydney Airport currently head west — about 80 planes a day on busy weekdays. The updated airspace plan adds a new eastbound departure route, expected to carry around 30 planes a day. That’s roughly a 37% shift in where flights go — not an increase in total numbers. Some suburbs will get more planes overhead, others will get fewer.
And because planes don’t all follow the exact same line, you might not hear every single one. Aircraft follow slightly different tracks within each corridor, depending on air traffic control instructions. So even if your suburb is under a flight path, you may only hear some of those planes, while other homes nearby may experience more or less noise.
Caveat: Suburbs Still Affected by Landing Planes
Takeoffs are only part of the story.
Many Inner West suburbs are already under arrival paths into Sydney Airport — and these landing routes are not changing.
Suburbs like:
Stanmore
Petersham
Annandale
Leichhardt
Parts of Marrickville and Sydenham
…will continue to experience high levels of aircraft noise when aircraft approach Sydney Airport over the Inner West. Landing planes tend to be lower and louder.
So even if your suburb avoids the new takeoff paths, you might still hear plenty of aircraft from existing arrival corridors.
What’s the Timeline?
October 2023 – January 2024: The federal government ran public consultation on the draft flight paths and received more than 8,400 submissions.
November 2024: The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was released, including changes made based on public feedback.
March 2025: A federal election was called. Final decisions are now on hold during the caretaker period.
No flight paths will be formally approved until after the election, when the relevant ministers are in a position to sign off.
Are These Flight Paths Final?
Not yet.
The final report has been released, but the flight paths are still waiting for official approval. The next steps:
The Minister for the Environment reviews the EIS and provides advice
The Minister for Infrastructure makes a formal decision — possibly with changes or conditions
Until that happens, the flight paths are not locked in.
When Will the New Airspace Be Used?
The changes to airspace are scheduled to take effect in late 2026, just before Western Sydney Airport begins operations.
Mid-2025: Airservices Australia will submit the airspace design for approval
Late 2026: Once approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), the new airspace system — including updated routes around Sydney Airport — will be introduced
So, any changes to how aircraft fly over the Inner West are at least a year away.
What This Means for Inner West Homebuyers
If you’re looking to buy in the Inner West — or already live there — it’s worth being aware of the proposed changes.
Some suburbs that previously had little flight noise may start noticing more planes overhead. Others may get some relief. And some (like Marrickville and Leichhardt) will continue to experience regular noise due to long-standing arrival routes that won’t change.
To check what’s planned for your address, use the government’s Aircraft Overflight Noise Tool:
https://www.wsiflightpaths.gov.au/aircraft-overflight-noise-tool
It’s interactive, easy to use, and shows:
How many planes might pass overhead
At what altitude
And at what time of day or night