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The Transport Minister has moved to quell concerns about the number of airlines that will operate from Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) when it opens next year.
Speaking to media this week, Catherine King said she has “every confidence” that WSI will be able to attract and retain airlines. Currently, QantasLink and Jetstar, as well as Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, plan to operate passenger services, with Qantas Freight to also fly cargo to WSI.
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“The catchment area for Western Sydney is millions and millions of people. We know just the huge growth that is happening out here. People in Western Sydney love to travel and love to be engaged with the world,” she said.
“The fact that we’ve got those airlines already engaged, they have had the foresight to know that that is going to be important. Obviously, freight operations out of here are also significant and a significant opportunity, particularly as a non-curfewed airport, to grow the economy out here.
“So I’m confident that the Western Sydney Airport Authority will continue to negotiate with airlines and you’ll see more announcements to come.”
Minister King said she expects passenger traffic to “slowly build up” at WSI, which she describes as being “right for the way in which we’ve actually operationalised the airport”.
“The reality is on day one, will it have exactly the same number of flights as Kingsford Smith? No, it won’t,” she said.
“We don’t expect that to occur, but certainly we’re working pretty hard to get more airlines and more flights involved and encourage that, and the teams are working pretty hard on that.
“But great to have those airlines on board already and looking forward to the first passengers at the end of next year.”
WSI CEO Simon Hickey told Australian Aviation earlier this year that the airlines which have already signed on will provide good international connectivity.
“We’ve got lots of good slots available, and they connect at probably great times to on-bound traffic. That’s up to the airlines to really get their networks together and determine where they want to go,” he said.
“What we’ve got, if you’ve got Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, that really gives you all the subcontinent. It gives you all of Asia. It gives you Europe in one go, and with Air New Zealand, it also gives you the US and the Pacific Islands.”
WSI has in recent days conducted flight path testing using a Cessna Conquest, with its first jet landing to take place near the end of this month.
