Sydney Airport was actually built in the early 1920s, which makes the airport one of the oldest in the world to still be operating. It was not until the 1950s though that it began to become a destination for commercial flights, as the first paved runways were not in place until then. The 16R runway that was created then is still the longest runway in use throughout the whole of Australia.
Since this initial expansion, Sydney Airport has grown to incorporate three terminals, as well as three runways. Two of the terminals are used for domestic flights only, while the other is solely for the use of international flights. In 2010 the airport handled 35.9 million people landing there and in 2009 it was named the 28th busiest airport worldwide.
The airport is actually located in Sydney itself – not on the periphery of the city like many other airports are. It has Rodd Island to the north and Bare Island far to the south, with a large amount of urban land surrounding it on three sides. The south side of the airport is bordered by the sea that separates the airport from Bare Island.
For passenger's comfort, there are a number of shops and restaurants located in the airport, including all of the well-known fast food chains. It is also incredibly easy to get to, with regular bus and rail services connecting travelers from the airport to the city center. Finally, there are many affordable hotels and hostels in the locality that specifically cater for those using the airport. These can be found through a search online or simply by asking around within the airport itself.
