Preedee TeoOn 27 Aug 2024, the upcoming Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) announced its first international airline partner, Singapore Airlines (SIA). The airport, located in Badgerys Creek, New South Wales, Australia, is set to open in late 2026. Unlike its existing counterpart, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which terminates services between 11.00pm and 2.30am, WSI will operate 24/7, offering increased flexibility and convenience for travellers.
Also read: Singapore Airlines Dominates 2024 Best International Airlines List
Construction of the new airport is near completion
Image credit: Western Sydney | Official Website
Construction of Western Sydney International Airport began in Sep 2018 and is advancing rapidly, with over 80% of the work completed. The site is estimated to be 1,780 hectares, which is twice the area of Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport. Moreover, WSI is setting up to welcome 10 million passengers per year on opening, with plans to grow that number to 80 million passengers per year in 2060.
Several major airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Jetstar, are planning to operate at the new Western Sydney International Airport
Western Sydney International Airport will be operational 24-hour
WSI’s CEO, Simon Hickey, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Singapore Airlines, calling it a “fantastic milestone” for the airport. He emphasised the benefits of the airport’s 24-hour operations, particularly for business travellers. Hickey stated, “Western Sydney International Airport’s late-night departure capacity, for instance, could allow 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 very next day.”
The airport’s advanced infrastructure, including a “state-of-the-art baggage system and efficient design, including five-minute taxi times on the tarmac,” will allow Singapore Airlines passengers to transfer quickly and smoothly.
Singapore Airlines’ commitment to Australia
Louis Arul, Singapore Airlines’ regional vice president for the South West Pacific, remarked on the importance of the new partnership. “This agreement reflects our commitment to enhancing network connectivity for travellers to and from Sydney, and providing additional services for Australia, which is a major market for the Singapore Airlines Group,” he said.
More details on planned flight operations between SIA and WSI will be released to the public in due time, as revealed by an SIA spokesperson. The spokesperson added, “Australia is an important market for the SIA Group, and the demand for air travel to and from Sydney remains robust.”
More partnerships with airlines in the future
Currently, Singapore Airlines operates four daily flights to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport from Changi Airport, while its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, runs 10 flights a week. The addition of WSI as a new hub will likely expand Singapore Airlines’ capacity and connectivity in the region, offering passengers more options and convenience.
In an official statement, WSI stated that “we’ll have more airline partnerships to announce soon.”
Also read: Discover More for Less: A Guide to Exploring Hidden Gems in Australia and New Zealand
As Western Sydney International Airport prepares for its grand opening in late 2026, travellers can look forward to around-the-clock service and cutting-edge facilities with the airport’s partnership with Singapore Airlines, which marks a significant step forward in its goal to become a major international gateway.
Featured image credit: Western Sydney | Official Website
Facebook featured image credit: (L-R) Simon Clayton via Canva Pro; Western Sydney | Official Website
