Sydney Airport has launched one of the largest food and beverage expansion programmes in its history, opening opportunities for hospitality operators as it pushes ahead with plans to transform the passenger dining experience.
The airport has announced a major Request for Proposal programme covering more than 3,000 square metres of retail space across 20 locations within both its international and domestic terminals.
The move represents a significant expansion of airport dining infrastructure as passenger numbers continue growing across both domestic and international operations.
Twenty New Dining Opportunities Planned Across Two Terminals
The expansion programme includes food and beverage opportunities across both Terminal 1 international and Terminal 2 domestic operations.
Hospitality operators are being invited to submit concepts designed around changing passenger expectations, global dining trends and experiences that reflect Sydney and wider Australian culture.
Airport executives say the objective is to significantly raise the quality and diversity of airport dining while creating opportunities for hospitality brands to scale.
Officials describe the programme as one of the largest airport food and beverage opportunities currently available in Australia.
Passenger Growth Creates Strong Commercial Opportunity
Terminal 1 international currently handles more than 18 million international passengers annually and continues experiencing strong growth.
During the first quarter of 2026 alone, international passenger numbers reached 4.57 million, representing growth of 5.8% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Long international dwell times are viewed as particularly valuable for food and beverage operators, with average passenger waiting times exceeding two hours.
Terminal 2 domestic also provides high-volume passenger traffic, with airport data showing most travelers spend more than one hour airside before departure.
Airport Looking For Hospitality Partners With Scale And Innovation
Sydney Airport says it is seeking operators capable of delivering large-scale hospitality experiences while also introducing new concepts and flexible commercial models.
The airport says preferred partners will demonstrate strong operational capability, clear brand identity, sustainability commitments and innovative approaches to menu design and customer experience.
Officials are also encouraging proposals focused on creating stronger “sense of place” dining experiences designed to connect international and domestic travelers with Sydney’s identity.
The expansion forms part of the airport’s wider retail strategy as operators increasingly focus on improving passenger experiences while generating stronger commercial returns from terminal space.
