Sydney’s new $6 billion international airport will be ready for passenger flights as early as next July as emergency drills and testing of complex systems such as automated baggage are ramped up.

Signalling the fast-approaching start of passenger services, Western Sydney Airport chief operating officer Matt Duffy said the new aviation hub would “definitely be open” in the second half of next year, although the exact start of flights would depend on airlines.

“Ultimately, we don’t control fleet schedules – that’s really the domain of the airlines,” he said. “Our job here is to make sure that the airport is ready. So we’ll be ready within the second half of next year. The airlines ultimately will make a decision on ... how they schedule their fleets.”

Airlines are expected to want to star

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