in brief
- Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will open to the public on Sunday 25 October.
- Flights to and from WSI will increase the overall air traffic for Sydney.
Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) finally has an opening date confirmed after decades of planning and construction.
The first flight to depart the new runway will take off on 25 October this year, with tickets for domestic departures into next year on sale from Wednesday.
A Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast will be the maiden voyage.
Jetstar and Qantas are the first two carriers to offer flights from the new airport, with company executives arguing that increased air traffic will ease demand on some of Australia's busiest routes.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said that the new airport will give Western Sydney residents greater flexibility to fly around the clock to national hubs.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
“Despite the ongoing global conflict that continues to challenge the industry, today’s domestic ticket launch is another vote of confidence in Western Sydney International Airport, and the opportunities this rapidly growing region presents for the future of air travel in Greater Sydney," he said.
Jetstar will start running up to 21 flights per week from WSI to Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast from October.
Qantas will add eight of its own weekly services to Melbourne and Brisbane from the end of March 2027.
WSI will not be subject to the same curfews as Sydney's existing Kingsford-Smith Airport, allowing passengers to fly between the normally-restricted 11pm and 6am.
The release of the planned WSI flight paths in 2023 prompted outcry from some local residents, particularly those in the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, who say the aviation noise will be a major disturbance.
The sale of domestic routes follows the release of WSI's first international routes earlier this year, with flights to Singapore and Auckland, New Zealand, starting in October and November, respectively.
The airport will be capable of catering for up to 10 million passengers a year upon opening and is designed to grow to handle 82 million annually, on par with London’s Heathrow Airport today, one of Europe's busiest.
Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said that the airport would also become a key hub for Qantas freight.
"More than 850 tonnes of freight [are] expected to move through our new terminal each week, helping us meet growing demand for e-commerce and next-day deliveries,” she said.
The airport is in the final stages of terminal fit-out works in anticipation of the opening of Australia’s first major international greenfield airport in more than 50 years.
Delays and blowouts
The concept of a second Sydney airport to service the western suburbs dates back to the 1940s, with Badgerys Creek being formally selected as the site of the development in 1986.
However, thanks to decades of political disagreement and planning alterations, it wasn't until 2014 that the Abbott government officially declared construction would begin.
While the airport itself has remained on schedule and within its initial $5.3 billion federal budget allocation, the metro rail link designed to service it has been pushed back and may not come online until 2028.
The $11 billion infrastructure project is threatening to blow out by an additional $2.2 billion, something the New South Wales contractor Webuild has blamed on supply chain disruptions and scope creep.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to provide the requested funds, saying the state "won't be gouged" by private firms seeking to pass on cash-flow risk to taxpayers.
In retaliation, Webuild has issued a "go-slow" order, cutting night, weekend, and overtime work.
The project has also been hampered by delays in the deliveries of German-built driverless trains, as well as power grid issues at St Marys interchange station.
The state has been forced to offer a free public bus running from WSI and the St Marys train and bus interchange, which will be phased out when the metro line is completed.
Hudson said that the opening of the airport represents a major milestone in Australian aviation.
"We're excited by the potential of Western Sydney International Airport to spur local tourism and make aviation more accessible for millions of people in Western Sydney, who currently have to travel to Kingsford Smith to catch a flight," she said.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
