A MAJOR international airport is about to undergo two decades of change with a massive expansion.
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia dates back to 1919 making it one of the oldest international airports in the world.
Sydney Airport is set to undergo a massive expansionCredit: Sydney Airport/ YoutubeThe project will take place over the next two decadesCredit: Sydney Airport/ Youtube
And it has revealed its Master Plan 2045 that will completely transform the airport.
Over two decades, the AUD$6billion (£3.1billion) project will completely overhaul the airport including expanding the international terminal, as well as redeveloping two domestic terminals.
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There will be two new gates at the international terminal, as well as 12 new ‘swing gates’ at the domestic terminals, which can also be used for international aircraft depending on demand.
There will also be a new concourse between the domestic T2 and T3 terminals, which is where the new ‘swing gates’ will be, allowing the area to be transformed for international departures.
At the international terminal (T1), travellers will also find additional baggage reclaims and new gate lounges.
Tech upgrades at the airport, which will be finished by the end of this year, include a $200million (£104million) update to T2 Domestic Terminal with new security scanners and self-service bag drops.
Flights at the airport are set to increase as well, from around 75,000 currently per year to 130,000 by 2045.
As a result, international passengers are expected to double from around 16million per year today, to 36.4million in 2045.
Inside the airport, the international terminal will be expandedCredit: Sydney Airport/ YoutubeThere will also be 12 new flexible gates that can be used for either domestic or international flightsCredit: Sydney Airport/ Youtube
There will also be a new hotel which will add 200 to 500 rooms near T1 and between 500 and 900 elsewhere at the airport.
Across the entire airport, there will be a number of new shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and potentially even a pub too.
According to the planning documents, there will be “amusement centres” and “entertainment facilities” as well.
By 2045, the airport aims to handle 72.6million passengers a year – compared to the 42.5million passengers today.
It will be the airport’s largest terminal transformation since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “Approval of Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045 provides a clear pathway to plan for future demand and invest in the infrastructure Sydney will need over the next two decades.
The project is expected to lead to more than 72million passengers a year by 2045Credit: Sydney Airport/ YoutubeIt will be the airport’s largest terminal transformation since the 2000 Sydney OlympicsCredit: Sydney Airport/ Youtube
“As Australia’s international gateway, this plan ensures we can continue supporting tourism, trade, investment and jobs while delivering the capacity needed for future generations.”
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said: “Kingsford Smith is Australia’s busiest airport, it must remain fit for the future.
“Airports aren’t artworks, they’re constantly evolving to become more efficient and improve the passenger experience, and this new Master Plan maps out the airport’s plan to do just that.
“As demand grows, a modern Kingsford Smith will remain crucial to transport, tourism and industry across New South Wales and the nation.”
This winding path has been used for centuries – and is just as popular today.
This is one of the oldest roads in Britain(Image: Getty)
A winding road which meanders through Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire is thought to be the oldest in Britain. The Ridgeway is an ancient path which has provided safe routes through the country for centuries.
The road follows a ride of chalk hills for 139 kilometres to reach Ivinghoe Beacon in northwest London. This same route is the one that travellers, farmers and soldiers have walked for more than 5,000 years.
Nowadays, the road is popular with cyclists and walkers as well as people who use mobility scooters.
Along the trail, walkers can gaze out over wide views of rolling chalk hills and find all kinds of archaeological marvels.
There are Iron Age forts, as well as the White Horse of Uffington, which is thought to be the oldest hill figure in Britain.
The White Horse is carved into the chalk hillside and is an incredible 374 feet in length. According to the BBC it’s thought to date back to 1,000BC in the late Bronze Age.
The path also takes walkers past Wayland’s Smithy – a Neolithic ruin that is thought to have once been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metalworking.
It’s an atmospheric area.
The visible ruin is actually a secondary structure – the original, which lies beneath the stones, is thought to have been a burial structure where 14 people were interred between 3460 and 3400 BC.
Wayland’s Smithy was constructed on top of the burial site, and has remained there over the centuries.
The track fluctuates between the wide open chalk paths along the hillside and the deeply embedded lanes between ancient beech trees.
Once you are East of the Thames, The Ridgeway travels through the sun-dappled woodland and the intimate hills and valleys of the Chilterns – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The walk is rich in history, but also makes for a stunning walk. You don’t have to tackle the whole thing at once – there are plenty of circular routes dotted along the trail, and multiple places to start and finish.
A MUCH-LOVED family ride has been forced to close after it appears it derailed and the track split.
The Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the oldest operating rollercoasters in the world.
Videos on social media appear to show a split trackCredit: TiktokCarriages also seemed to derailCredit: Tiktok
Yesterday afternoon, the wooden rollercoaster was forced to close and is still closed today, following some of the carriages of the ride derailing, with a video shared on social media also showing the track split down the middle.
Several videos shared on social media show the ride at a halt on a low part of the track.
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The track in front, which rises before a drop, appears to be broken in several places – though, reportedly, no one was hurt.
One rider, Reanna Harrison-Berry, 20, who was riding with her boyfriend, said they heard a “crunch” sound as they went uphill.
And the theme park has since announced that they will cut prices by 15 per cent this summer.
This includes the Tiny Tots Wristband which includes unlimited goes on nine rides such as the Margate Express and Caterpillar Coaster, and now costs £10.99.
Otherwise there is the Mega Ride Wristbands which includes all ride entry, all day for £20.99.
OUR Spotlight On column takes an indepth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as shining a light on the lesser-known spots.
This week, we look at the historic Hertfordshire city of St Alban’s, home to more pubs per square mile than any other UK destination.
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We’re talking all things St AlbansCredit: Alamy
The Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski is a local, and knows all the best spots.
She said: “Despite being an action-packed city, just a 20-minute train ride from the UK’s capital, St Albans has managed to maintain a village-y feel with cosy cafes run by locals and tiny boutiques selling hand-painted homeware.
“It’s absolutely crawling with fascinating history and claims to be home to the oldest pub in Britain, Ye Olde Fighting Cocks – a local rumour claims that a set of old tunnels, dug by monks, lurk beneath the pub leading all the way up the hill to the cathedral.
“Every Saturday and Wednesday, the streets are full of traders flogging from tiny market stalls.
Here are some other top tips including where to stay.
MUST SEE/DO
Hertfordshire’s only city has a fascinating history dating back more than 2,000 years.
St Albans was a huge hub in the Roman era and you can still see the remains of an ancient wall when you stroll around the 100-acre Verulamium Park.
The striking cathedral is one of the city’s main attractions, and daily tours are free.
Be sure to swing by the cafe there for some seriously tasty sausage rolls.
Ye Olde Fighting Cocks claims to be one of the UK’s oldest pubsCredit: Alamy
HIDDEN GEM
Not many people know that you can watch a play in an actual Roman theatre. Upcoming plays at the Roman Theatre include Sherlock Holmes, The Importance Of Being Earnest and Twelfth Night.
The venue is entirely outdoors so bring your own blanket, or you can rent one on site. There’s also a bar. BEST VIEW: The Clock Tower, dating back to 1405, stands in pride of place at the foot of the city’s cobbled high street.
It opens to the public every weekend and bank holiday from 10.30am until 5pm and visitors can climb to the top for great views of the town and surrounding countryside.
An action-packed market runs every Saturday from behind the tower, so you can use the Clock Tower as a vantage point from which to plot out which stalls you want to visit.
RATED RESTAURANT
The Silver Palate, a local deli just behind the Clock Tower, serves knock-out sandwiches and smoothies.
For something a little fancier, French restaurant Hazels puts some of London’s classiest dining spots to shame with its cracking sharing menu that changes weekly.
Expect dishes like smoked ham hock and Parmesan croquettes, as well as spiced lamb-ragu hummus.
Also drop into Glaze bakery for a pastry or dessert. You may recognise owner Oli from his witty videos on social media.
It even has some of the most pubs per square mileCredit: Alamy
BEST BAR
The Boot, housed in a dinky Grade II-listed building, is slap-bang in the city centre.
But if the sun is shining, head to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, which has an excellent pub garden that borders the park.
For something a little classier, Suckerpunch does sophisticated cocktails.
HOTEL PICK
McFly‘s Tom Fletcher and singer Rochelle Humes are among the stars who have stayed at swanky 5H hotel Sopwell House and enjoyed its lush spa.
Rooms there start from a hefty £329 per night, but for something a little less eyewatering, head to the Samuel Ryder Hotel.
This centrally located joint is part of the Hilton brand and has rooms from £149 per night. See hilton.com.
A HISTORIC pier in Blackpool is set for a huge upgrade after being put up for sale last year.
Blackpool’s Grade II-listed North Pier has revealed plans for a £10million restoration while under new ownership.
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Blackpool’s North Pier has been sold and will undergo £10million of improvementsCredit: AlamyThe pier sits just beyond Blackpool Tower and is one of the oldest in the countryCredit: Alamy
The historic pier that stretches out 1,140 feet from the beach first opened in 1863 – which makes it one of the oldest in the country.
PARIS — There’s a present-day answer to the question that was posed in verse by the French medieval poet and street brawler François Villon: “Where are the snows of yesteryear?”
They’re right here, in high summer, on Paris’ oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, where an enormous art installation, a trompe l’oeil inflatable snow-clad mountain range, has arisen over the river Seine.
Using about 200,000 square feet of printed fabric, Paris-born street artist JR has created “La Caverne du Pont Neuf.” It’s his version of and homage to the innovative work of groundbreaking environmental artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
They’re the fabled duo who first wrapped the arches of this same bridge in straw-colored fabric in 1985. Over the years, they also surrounded 11 islands in Florida’s Biscayne Bay with flamingo-pink cloth, hung saffron-colored fabric “gates” in New York’s Central Park, installed a “running fence” of billowing white material across nearly 25 miles of Sonoma and Marin counties and, in 1991, planted 3,100 yellow umbrellas, blooming like 20-foot-tall poppies, through the Tejon Pass north of L.A.
I interviewed Christo in 2011, and he was eloquent about how his and his wife’s work alters perceptions of nature, and about the deliberately transient character of the art itself. JR, an acolyte of their work, told me in an email that “an ephemeral artwork forces you to come now, and usually to come with other people. The visit becomes a shared moment … and this moment becomes a memory.”
In a city celebrated for artworks that have survived for centuries, this installation was very nearly too transient. A kooky hailstorm in late May, a heat wave in June, followed by ruthlessly ripping winds, delayed the opening by days. At last, beginning one midnight, the air pumps began and the work arose like a limestone-colored soufflé. It will be open around the clock until June 28.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. Back in 1985, Christo’s engineer on the Pont Neuf project, Ted Dougherty, pointed out that above 25 mph, “wind is not our friend.”
The piece works from two vantage points: from afar — visible from a lot of central Paris — and also from inside it, in the “cave” part. Pedestrians crossing the bridge pass through a fabricated interior, a cavern-like space printed in 3D realism and enhanced with a specially designed scent to evoke the dank, earthy aroma of humankind’s early habitations.
JR and Thomas Bangalter in “La Caverne du Pont Neuf” in Paris.
(Tara-Jay Bangalter)
JR intended it to be both. “From the start I designed two works in one. There is the silhouette — what you catch from the quais, from the bridges, from a boat on the Seine or simply walking past on your way somewhere else. That image belongs to everyone, including the people who never chose to look at art that day.”
And then, he said, “there is the inside, which is slower and more intimate, almost in the dark, hard to photograph.” That aspect is “a journey to cross the bridge, to go from darkness to light.”
When Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the arches of the Pont Neuf more than 40 years ago, it took years of planning and permits to make it happen. “La Caverne du Pont Neuf” was a breeze by comparison.
JR, whose other vast outdoor works have delivered double-takes of humans’ scale and their architecture, told me that cities have come to understand “that public art brings people together and that the image travels around the world. Once Christo showed it could be done safely and beautifully, the conversation changed. It was much easier for me to have my project accepted, thanks to them. They also proved the economic positive impact to the cities they worked in. I believe there should be more large-scale, ambitious public art projects.”
It’s one thing to conceive of such a project and another altogether to make it happen — so much technology, compared to, say, mixing paints and choosing a paintbrush. But the science that “La Caverne” required “is the art, not an obstacle to it,” JR said.
“Trompe l’oeil turns adults back into children,” JR said.
(Elea Jeanne Schmitter)
All the canvas, the engineering, the meticulous assembly, the permits — “none of that is preparation for the work, it is the work. Christo taught me this. The process is visible, and even more after the storm we experienced a couple of days before opening to the public. Nature always reminds you who is in charge. When the wind tore the canvas before we opened, we took it down, re-sewed it, reinforced it,” all in full public view.
“Where I stay careful is in not letting the technology become the subject. The augmented reality by Snap’s AR Studio adds to the project, doesn’t take you away from it.”
That air should be JR’s vital collaborator — no complex and costly scaffolding for these magic mountains — is nothing new in Paris.
The first free flight of humans above the earth, on Nov. 21, 1783, sent aloft two men in a hot-air balloon crafted by the Montgolfier brothers from silk fancifully painted in blue and gold with figures of the zodiac. It wafted across Paris for about 25 minutes at about 3,000 feet. Ephemeral, yes — and unforgettable.
Artists and couturiers are fond of the whimsy of trompe l’oeil, the trick of the eye, the illusion of reality. I am a sucker for it, for fashion like that of clothing designer Elsa Schiaparelli. JR has used it often, as a massive-scale magical deception to make the Louvre Pyramid “disappear” into the old Louvre, and opening up an imaginary subterranean world below the Eiffel Tower.
“Trompe l’oeil turns adults back into children,” he told me. “You know it isn’t real, you know that ‘La Caverne du Pont-Neuf’ is not made of rock, that this is printed canvas. And yet your eye wants to believe it, and for a moment you let yourself. That gap between knowing and believing is where the play happens, and people love being inside that gap.”
IT’S THE end of an era as after 90 years, Coventry Airport is closing its runway for good today.
What originally opened back in 1936 as Baginton Aerodrome – and later served as a World War II RAF fighter base – has officially grounded all flights, leaving fans of the airport saddened.
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Coventry Airport is closing for good todayCredit: Alamy
One fan of the airport commented online: “This was the best airport to fly from.”
Plans for the site have already been revealed, with it being transformed into a multi-billion-pound energy plant – though, several fans of the airport are not happy about the decision.
One person said on Facebook: “Such a shame an airport that has been there before World War II to be got rid of – just because someone wants to sell it for greed!”
Another added: “Sad to see the airport closing down; the airshows there were great and I had some happy times at the airport.”
Over the years the airport has seen its fair share of celebs including royalty Princess Anne and rock heroes Status Quo.
Airshows at the airport have hosted flying legends too such as the Red Arrows and Concorde.
Sun Travel takes a look back at the airport’s history.
1930s
The airport first opened back in the 1930sCredit: Getty
The airport officially opened in 1936, with a single grass runway.
In the late 1930s, the airport then looked to expand with Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft opening a factory next to the airfield.
This factory then later contributed to the industrial war effort.
1940s
During the war years, the British Royal Air Force used the airport as a base and fighter station.
Squadrons at the base included the Polish Fighter Squadron flying Hawker Hurricanes, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
However, the airport did become damaged in 1940 due to heavy bombing during the Coventry Blitz air raids by the German Luftwaffe.
Through the rest of the war, the airport was used to test bomber planes.
Commercial flights later started in the 1950sCredit: Getty
1950s
Commercial flights first took off from Coventry Airport in the 1950s with services from the Midlands to the Channel Islands.
1960s
During the 1960s, the airport began glider flights.
British United Airways also began flying from the airport – which was later merged with Caledonian Airways to form British Caledonian, which was then eventually absorbed into British Airways in 1988.
Aviation Traders Carvairs and Handley Page Dart Heralds also flew from the airport in the 60s.
1970s
Flights from the airport used to go to European destinations such as Italy and SpainCredit: Getty
Several open days were held at the airport in the 70s with historic aircraft being shown including a Bücker Jungmeister and a Messerschmitt 108.
Next to the airfield, The Midland Air Museum opened in 1978 with just five aircraft.
Despite the airport redevelopment, the museum will remain open with regular events and restorations.
Today the museum is home to more than 45 aircraft, including a Cold War nuclear bomber and Soviet helicopters.
Visitors heading to the museum can head on cockpit tours, watch aircraft be restored and enjoy a drink and light bites in the tea room.
1980s
The Pope even visit the airport in 1982Credit: GettyThe Pope toured the airfield, where there was a crowd of 350,000 peopleCredit: Getty
Coventry Airport was one of the first airports to gain a papal visit, with Pope John Paul II flying to the airport in a gold and blue helicopter in 1982.
He then toured the airfield, where he was greeted by a crowd of 350,000 people.
A company called Hards Travel also launched flights to Spain, France and Italy in the 1980s.
1990s
During the 90s, the airport became a 24-hour freight hub for Parcelforce.
More airshows were also hosted at the airport, with many locals able to take helicopter rides over the Warwickshire countryside.
2000s
Wizz Air launched flights from the airport in 2007Credit: Alamy
In the early 2000s, TUI AG launched low-cost airline Thomsonfly at the airport, basing its Boeing 737 planes there with flights to Europe.
Later, Wizz Air began flights from the airport in 2007 to Polish cities including Gdansk and Katowice.
However, these were short lived with the last passenger flight taking off in 2008.
By 2009, the airport had entered administration – though this too was short lived, with billionaire Sir Peter Rigby purchasing the airport in 2010.
Rigby reopened the airport with flight training schools, business jets, cargo and the West Midlands Air Ambulance.
Today
The airport will now be turned into a multi-billion-pound energy plantCredit: Alamy
Between 2021 and 2022, the local government approved plans to build the West Midlands Gigafactory, also known as Greenpower Park.
And in December 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority announced the airport’s official closure.
In May of this year, all flights were stopped with the flight schools and private jet owners told to move out of the airport.
In a final hurrah, Take That touch down at the airport for a concert in Coventry on June 5 as the last ever commercial flight at the airport.
‘I know this bear. He knows me. We’ve met several times.” Our guide for the day points to a damaged sign in Sutjeska national park, at the beginning of the trail that descends to the forest of Perućica in south-east Bosnia. The wooden post is covered in scratches from large claws. “Bears are the sharks of the land, because they have the keenest sense of smell on the mountain. They are highly intelligent. I’m deeply persuaded that they know who is a friend and who is a foe. I come often to the forest, so this guy knows my smell. But there was one incident, a hunter who came here to kill, and a bear peeled off his face like an orange.”
With that image, Dejan Elez commands our full attention. A Bosnian Serb law graduate turned ranger and now mountain guide, he is a born storyteller and raconteur. My travel companion, Chris, and I are rapt as he describes the famous battle that was fought near here, when Yugoslav partisans broke through a German encirclement in 1943, taking the Wehrmacht by surprise under cover of a violent storm – “the wind was rising and the lightning was like a strobe” – but after that, Dejan’s narrative leads much further back in time, into the depths of one of Europe’s most ancient forests.
Bear sightings are more likely in spring, when they emerge from hibernation to gorge on wild garlic. Photograph: Vince Burton/Alamy
Scientists estimate Perućica – which spreads across the slopes of a canyon in Republika Srpska, the autonomous Serb-majority region of Bosnia and Herzegovina – has grown without human interference for 20,000 years. Along with Białowieża, which straddles Poland and Belarus, it is considered the last true remnant of the primeval wildwood that once covered the continent. But Perućica, says Dejan, is much better preserved. It has never been inhabited, and rough terrain and precipitous slopes have saved its trees from logging. Its 1,434 hectares (3,543 acres) are now under strict protection – no one can enter without a guide – and the site’s importance is recognised by Unesco.
From a viewpoint on a rocky ridge, dense greenery spreads below, clinging to the sheer canyon walls above a river. The river is fed by Skakavac, a 75-metre waterfall thundering into a mist of spray, and far above shines the white summit of a mountain. Originally, Chris and I had hoped to climb Maglić – at 2,386 metres, the highest peak in Bosnia – but it snowed a couple of weeks ago and we have been warned that conditions in early spring are perilous. We’ll save going up for another time. Today we are going down.
The forest has about 170 species of tree and shrub and more than 1,000 plants. Photograph: Riding Hood/Alamy
Dejan leads the way along the winding trail through groves of mixed beech, fir, spruce, pine and maple. He admits he does not know the names of all the trees, but what he does know, intimately, are the tracks of animals. The forest, he says, is “legible”, and he reads it like a book. Circular patches where the humus has been grubbed away are made by chamois foraging nutritious roots. Roe deer do the same, but their holes are precise and deep. “Look” – Dejan points to a wet log – “those scratch marks were made by a canine, either fox or wolf. But there, on the same log, something even more exciting.” The wider, deeper scratches were made by a passing brown bear. Nearby is a larger hole where a bear has raided a honeybee hive. Of course, sightings are never guaranteed, but they are always possible at this time of year, when bears emerge from hibernation to gorge on wild garlic – known in many Balkan languages as “bear’s garlic”. “If I stop, you stop! Now we are in stealth mode.”
Every few minutes of descent seems to bring us to a different realm as the temperate rainforest grows taller and more tangled. Deadwood lies everywhere – paradoxically a sign of health. Lichen, moss and fungus drip from the branches. The astonishing biodiversity protects Perućica from epidemics such as spruce bark beetle infestation, which has devastated old-growth forests elsewhere. With about 170 species of tree and shrub and more than 1,000 plants, it’s little wonder that our guide doesn’t know them all.
During the last ice age, Perućica escaped the freeze, acting as a refugium, an isolated region in which many species were preserved. From here, the trees expanded their range northwards when it thawed. The forest’s name, Dejan believes, is connected with Perun, the pre-Christian and pre-Islamic Slavic god of lightning. Certainly, it feels as if we are wandering in a temple.
The 75-metre waterfall, Skakavac. Photograph: Outdoor Bosnia
He has packed sandwiches – cheese and ham in thick white buns – which we eat on a grassy ledge overlooking the waterfall. Chamois clearly dine here too, as their droppings are everywhere. We don’t see the herd – neither do we see the wildcats, lynx or wolves that also call the forest their home – but the knowledge that they are here, perhaps even very close to us, brings a sensation I can only describe as reverence. Each of us goes quiet with awe. Maglić and the other mountains disappear behind white cloud and it begins to rain. The wetness doesn’t matter.
With his legal background, Dejan is clear-eyed about the threats. The ancient forest may be safe, but hunters come to the wider national park and the rangers are sometimes bribed to look the other way. Most visitors to Sutjeska stay in the village of Tjentište, a scattering of guesthouses and modest restaurants along the main road, but increasingly there is encroachment at the borders of the park. Even our cosy timber-frame cabin near the entrance gate is, in his opinion, too close.
For Dejan, the guide, the vast forest is ‘legible’.
It’s not that people shouldn’t come here, he tells us as we walk back up. What matters is how they come, as respectful guests. We are not the owners of the forest, not even the owners of this trail, which is walked by and shared with many other feet. He stoops to brush aside some leaves and identifies flecks of bone that have passed through a wolf’s digestive tract, and further on, wolf excrement filled with chamois hair. “This was left on the trail deliberately to tell us it’s their territory. They don’t do anything by accident. Everything has a meaning.”
After almost five hours, we emerge on the gravel road that leads towards Tjentište. The absence of so much tangled life is vaguely shocking. Both of us feel changed by our glimpse into Europe’s wild past – and perhaps we have been subtly changed on a biological level, too. Dejan announces when we part: “You two gentlemen have been exposed to a universe of micro-organisms you will never find in England. This forest gets inside you.” Perućica clings to us as we leave the national park and return to Sarajevo, a two and a half hour drive, going north as the trees once did when the ice age ended.
