In November 2023, Sydney Airport was proud to name the new flyover into the domestic terminal precinct after aviation trailblazer, Deborah Lawrie AM.

Deborah Lawrie was the first woman in Australia to become a pilot for a commercial airline, after a ground‑breaking legal battle.

Despite being qualified, Deborah Lawrie’s applications to be a pilot were repeatedly rejected due to her gender. In 1979, she won Australia’s first successful High Court sex discrimination case for employment, a decision that paved the way for women to get equal rights in workplaces across the country.

Deborah Lawrie made history on 22 January 1980 when she co-piloted an Ansett flight from Alice Springs to Darwin. The Deborah Lawrie Flyover has been named in recognition of her significant service to aviation and her advocacy for gender equality.

The flyover is part of the NSW Government’s $2.6 billion Sydney Gateway project to improve traffic flow and reduce travel times.