Summary
- Western Sydney International will revolutionize the airport experience with 24-hour operations and modern technology.
- Major airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas are gearing up to operate at WSI, offering travelers new opportunities.
The last 12 months have been turbulent for Australian aviation, including the end of domestic Bonza and Rex services, disputes over slot allocation in Sydney and intense government scrutiny of service quality. While airline competition has taken a major hit, competition in the Sydney airport sector is heating up.
A Sydney airport that is open all night
In addition to non-competitive peak slot allocation, Sydney Airport’s biggest challenge is the night-time curfew, which is already a key part of the marketing of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). Today, the new challenger announced it has secured its first international airline customer: Singapore Airlines confirmed its intention to operate at Western Sydney International Airport.
Image: Western Sydney Airport
In 2023, Singapore Airlines and Western Sydney International signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the airport’s functionality, customer experience, sustainability, operational efficiency and mutual commercial opportunities. This confirmation establishes a strategic partnership between WSI and Singapore Airlines at Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than 50 years.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the heart of the agreement was 24/7 operations and recognition of WSI’s unique scheduling capabilities that airlines, particularly international carriers such as Singapore Airlines, can leverage in the future. Hickey used this to illustrate what a curfew-free airport could mean for travelers.
“Western Sydney International Airport’s late night departure capacity could enable Singapore Airlines business travellers to finish a full day’s work in Sydney, take an overnight flight and arrive in Singapore before their first morning meeting the next day.”
In June last year, the Qantas Group announced it had reached an agreement with Western Sydney International to operate 15 narrow-body aircraft at the airport when it opens in late 2026. During the first 12 months of operations, five Qantas and 10 Jetstar aircraft will be based at WSI. All will operate domestic flights, including to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast (OOL).
New opportunities at WSI
A fresh start brings many benefits and WSI is focused on providing a smooth and hassle-free experience for its customers using the latest technology. There will be a combined international and domestic terminal for seamless transfers, the latest baggage handling systems and a five-minute tarmac taxi time, something its rival across town doesn’t offer.
Photo: Western Sydney Airport
Louis Arul, Singapore Airlines’ Regional Vice President South West Pacific, said the agreement reflects SIA’s commitment to improving network connectivity for travellers to and from Sydney and to provide additional services to Australia, which is an important market for the Singapore Airlines Group. He added:
“This is a unique opportunity to partner with a greenfield airport to set new standards in customer experience. We are working closely with WSI to ensure our customers continue to enjoy the comprehensive, end-to-end, world-class experience that Singapore Airlines stands for.”
Photo: christopheronglv | Shutterstock
Singapore Airlines currently operates 130 weekly services between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Australia, 28 of which are via Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). Understandably, there is no mention yet of how many services Singapore Airlines will operate at WSI or with which aircraft, although both airports can easily accommodate the Airbus A380, A350 and Boeing 777-300ER that operate this route today.
Following the recent completion of the terminal roof, construction of the airport is over 80% complete and the opening is scheduled for late 2026. Residents in the Western Sydney catchment area already make around two million air journeys per year and the airport is expected to grow to 82 million passengers per year, putting it on a par with London Heathrow (LHR) and Dubai International (DXB).
