Sydney Airport Terminal Guide 2026: T1, T2 and T3, Which Airline Uses Which, and How to Move Between Them
Sydney Airport has three terminals in two places: T1 on the western side of the runways for every international flight, and T2 and T3 side by side on the eastern side for domestic flights, split by airline. T1 is international, T2 is Virgin Australia and Jetstar, T3 is Qantas, and during the T2 rebuild Rex departs from T3 while arriving at T2; the free T-Bus links the two sides every 15 minutes from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm and the train does it in two minutes. Below is the terminal split, the ways between the terminals, the opening hours and the hotel closest to each. Checked September 2026.
T1 International
Terminal 1 handles every scheduled international flight at Sydney, including the international services of Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia as well as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, United, Delta, ANA, JAL, Korean Air, Garuda and Thai. Check-in and security are on the departures level, arrivals with passport control and customs one level down, and the International Airport train station, the taxi rank, the rideshare zone and the T-Bus stop are all on the arrivals level. The terminal opens at about 2:30 am for the first check-ins and closes around 11 pm. The Aerotel is inside the terminal on the arrivals level, and the Rydges is across the road.
T2 Domestic
Terminal 2 is the multi-airline domestic terminal, used by Virgin Australia and Jetstar, with Rex and FlyPelican arrivals. A rebuild of the terminal is under way until the end of 2026, with new check-in halls, security and gates arriving in stages, and while it lasts Rex and FlyPelican departures have been moved to T3 to reduce the crowds. Expect changed walking routes and temporary check-in positions inside T2 until the works finish, and check the airport’s T2 page before an early departure. The Domestic Airport train station is between T2 and T3, and the shuttle bays for the hotel and Space Shuttle buses are outside T2.
T3 Qantas Domestic
Terminal 3 is the Qantas terminal, for Qantas and QantasLink domestic flights, with the Qantas Club and the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, and for the moment the Rex and FlyPelican departures as well. It has its own check-in hall with self-service kiosks and bag drop, its own taxi rank, and Uber’s kerbside pick-up on the arrivals level. It shares the Domestic Airport station, the car parks and the T-Bus stop with T2, a five-minute landside walk away. T2 and T3 open at about 4 am and close around 11 pm.
Moving between the terminals
The free T-Bus runs a loop between the arrivals level of T1, outside Arrivals Hall B, and the arrivals levels of T2 and T3, every 15 minutes from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm, taking about 10 minutes; the old AUD 6 fare was dropped. The Airport Link train takes two minutes between International Airport and Domestic Airport stations, with a reduced inter-terminal fee rather than the full station access fee, and runs from about 5 am to midnight. A taxi takes about 10 minutes and costs AUD 20 to 25. Passengers connecting on Qantas or Virgin Australia between an international and a domestic flight on the same ticket can use the airline’s airside transfer bus, which moves them between T1 and T3 or T2 without leaving the secure area; ask at the transfer desk after immigration.
Connecting times and the curfew
For an international to domestic connection on separate tickets allow at least three hours: immigration and customs at T1 take 30 to 60 minutes, the T-Bus or train 15 to 20 minutes door to door, and domestic check-in closes 30 to 45 minutes before departure. The curfew stops aircraft movements between 11 pm and 6 am, so the last arrivals land before 11 pm and the first departures leave at 6 am, and a late-evening delay can turn into a cancellation and a night at the airport. The terminals do not stay open through the curfew; the sleeping in the airport guide explains what happens overnight and the curfew guide how to plan around the 6 am wave.
The closest hotel to each terminal
For T1, the Aerotel is inside the terminal and the Rydges is a three-minute walk across the road, with the Novotel 1 km away at Wolli Creek. For T2 and T3, the Mascot hotels are 900 m to 2 km away: the Travelodge with its free shuttle, the ibis budget a 10-minute walk from the station, the Pullman, Stamford Plaza and Citadines Connect a train stop or a short shuttle away. Every transfer is priced in the hotel transfers guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which terminal does my airline use at Sydney Airport?
All international flights use T1, including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia international services. T2 is the domestic terminal for Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Rex arrivals; T3 is Qantas and QantasLink domestic, and during the T2 upgrade Rex and FlyPelican departures have moved to T3 while their arrivals stay at T2. Check the terminal on your boarding pass on the day.
How do I get between T1 and the domestic terminals?
The free T-Bus runs every 15 minutes from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm between the arrivals levels of T1 and T2 and T3, about 10 minutes; the Airport Link train takes two minutes between International Airport and Domestic Airport stations for a reduced inter-terminal fee; a taxi takes about 10 minutes. Qantas and Virgin passengers on same-day connections can use the airlines' airside transfer buses without leaving the secure area.
Are T2 and T3 connected?
They stand next to each other on the domestic side and share the Domestic Airport train station, the shuttle bays and the car parks; walking between them landside takes about five minutes. There is no airside link, so a Virgin to Qantas connection means leaving one terminal and checking in at the other.
What time do the Sydney Airport terminals open?
T1 opens at about 2:30 am and T2 and T3 at about 4 am, and all three close around 11 pm after the last flights, because the curfew stops aircraft movements from 11 pm to 6 am. You cannot wait inside overnight; the Aerotel inside T1 and the hotels across the road are the overnight options.
Information last verified: September 22, 2026