International flights have officially begun at Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), also known as Nancy-Bird Walton today, and millions of airline passengers are set to benefit, even if they use Sydney’s other airport.
Air New Zealand flight NZ165 touched down at WSI at 7.27am on Monday, marking the airport’s first international passenger arrival from Auckland.
The return flight is scheduled to depart at 8.55am for Auckland, where it is due to arrive at 2.10pm local time.
The momentous occasion will see up to 80 million passengers a year benefit by 2060, with one huge improvement set to solve a common issue for all Sydneysiders.
How WSI could help prevent flight cancellations at Sydney Airport
Western Sydney University urban planning professor Awais Piracha told Yahoo News Australia the new airport could help airlines avoid cancellations when delays threaten to push flights past Sydney Airport’s curfew.
“Those flights, even when they may be bound for Kingsford Smith Airport, and if they are getting delayed, they wouldn’t worry about the fine that currently exists if you arrive past the curfew deadline,” he said.
“They would ask Western Sydney Airport: ‘Can we land here?'”
This is because WSI will operate 24 hours a day without a curfew , allowing flights to arrive and depart at any time.
Piracha also said differing weather conditions could allow flights unable to land at Kingsford Smith to divert to WSI rather than Brisbane or Melbourne.
Western Sydney University urban planning professor Awais Piracha says the new airport could help airlines avoid cancellations. Source: James D. Morgan via Getty Images/Supplied
WSI reports smooth start as more airlines prepare to join
WSI CEO Simon Hickey told ABC News this morning the second day of operations has been “going great” with no teething problems detected.
“This is something we’ve been building up to, we’ve had 50,000 bags go through the bag system through training,” he said.
“We’ve had thousands of our community members come out to help us put us through paces.
“Yesterday, it was just actually another day at the office.”
On Sunday, Jetstar’s Airbus A320 departed for the Gold Coast at 11am, marking the airport’s inaugural commercial passenger flight.
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Passengers boarded Jetstar’s first commercial flight from WSI Airport on Sunday, marking a major milestone for Sydney’s new airport. Source: James D. Morgan/Getty Images
(James D. Morgan via Getty Images)
WSI tipped to handle 80 million passengers a year
A WSI spokesperson described the airport as a major milestone for Australia.
“WSI is here to grow with Sydney for the coming century, expand choice for travellers and airlines, and connect more people with more places and opportunities.”
The airport expects to reach 10 million annual passengers in the 2030s and eventually handle more than 80 million a year in the 2060s.
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WSI transport links under scrutiny as residents face long journeys
While WSI opens to excitement, concerns remain over public transport links for some of the region’s fastest-growing communities, including Rouse Hill, Kellyville, The Ponds, St Marys and Box Hill.
“For all practical purposes, the fastest growing part of Greater Sydney, people there do not have a reasonable public transport connection to the airport,” Piracha said.
“For people in those north-western suburbs, it could actually take less time to get to Sydney Airport than Western Sydney International.”
WSI Airport has begun welcoming international flights, with six airlines expected to operate from the new airport within its first six months. Source: James D. Morgan/Getty Images
(James D. Morgan via Getty Images)
WSI said passengers could use bus services linking surrounding centres, a free half-hourly shuttle between St Marys and the airport, taxis, rideshare and private vehicles.
The airport is also connected to Sydney’s motorway network via the M12 and has 6,000 parking spaces.
Airlines to operatte out of Western Sydney Airport
WSI expects six airlines to operate from the airport within its first six months, including Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines by November 23, VietJet, Qantas on March 28 and Fiji Airways.
Qatar Airways is expected to join by the end of 2027, with WSI saying passengers will then have access to more than 250 destinations worldwide.
Yahoo News Australia has reached out to Air New Zealand for comment.
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