Air New Zealand kicks off Western Sydney’s international flights

“Kia ora to our friends across the Tasman and a very warm welcome to Sydney’s new global gateway. Together with our valued partners at Air New Zealand, Western Sydney is now taking off to the world,” said WSI CEO Simon Hickey.

“Through our 24-hour operations, Western Sydney International Airport gives airlines greater flexibility to connect into global hubs and travellers more choice in how they reach the world, offering an unprecedented new era of connectivity for people across Greater Sydney.

Speaking to media at the launch, Air New Zealand chief operating officer Kate Boyer said the carrier was “thrilled to be the first international airline to launch services out of Western Sydney International”.

“We have always had this sort of pioneering spirit at Air New Zealand, this drive to be the first, and so helping partner with Western Sydney and open up this international gateway, it’s a privilege,” she said.

“It’s an honour for us, and particularly because the community here is so strong, so many Kiwi expats, so many in the Pacific community here that we’re able to connect across that really special Tasman connection from business to trade to leisure and tourism traffic.

“It’s really an amazing opportunity to create another connection between Australia and New Zealand. This airport is so special. It has been such a journey to get it up and running and partnering with Simon and his team. So, we’re just thrilled.”

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According to Hickey, the Air New Zealand service will offer “more choice and flexibility” across the Tasman, as well as opening up connections across the airline’s domestic and international network.

“Western Sydney is home to around 2.5 million people and more than 170 ancestries, with residents frequently travelling overseas for business and to connect with family and friends,” he said.

“As one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing economies, the region represents a substantial new market for international airlines.

“We’re bringing more aviation capacity and competition to the doorstep of one of Australia’s fastest-growing markets, giving international airlines room to grow and travellers from Western Sydney and beyond a modern, world-class, digitally enabled airport experience.

“Today is a fitting celebration of our two nation’s deep cultural and historical bonds, with the first international flight from our vibrant and diverse Western Sydney region to New Zealand’s largest city and commercial hub for tourism and trade.”

WSI is the first airport in Australia to offer the new digital travel declaration for incoming passengers, supplanting the paper Incoming Passenger Card, with the NZ165 passengers among the first to make use of it.

Flights from WSI by Singapore Airlines will start next month, with Vietjet, Fiji Airways, and Qatar Airways to follow in 2027, along with domestic QantasLink services.