Singapore Airlines has become the first overseas carrier to confirm a starting date for services at the new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).
Daily non-stop flights will start on November 23 amid a current jet fuel price scare sparked by the Iranian war.
The airline says it will operate a 303-seat A350-900 aircraft on the new route; flights will depart the new airport at 11.30pm and arrive at Changi around 5am (local time) with the return flight touching down at 10:20pm.
The new airport will not be bound by a curfew and will operate 24-7.
Dai Haoyu, Senior Vice-President for Marketing Planning with the airline, says the new service will offer more choice for travellers.
“Western Sydney’s late-night departure capacity will enable a seamless travel journey and connections through Changi Airport to more than 130 global destinations,” he says.
The airline will continue to fly out of the cross-town Kingsford-Smith Airport as well, it says.
SINGAPORE CONNECTIONS
Western Sydney airport CEO Simon Hickey says the news is historic for the country’s first international greenfield airport in more than 50 years.
“Not only will WSI increase aviation capacity in the Sydney basin … our 24-hour services will unlock new routes with Singapore Airlines for everyone across Greater Sydney,” he says.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King welcomed the news.
“Daily flights will connect Western Sydney globally …. through Changi,” she says.
NSW Tourism Minister Steve Kamper says the announcement is significant for their tourism industry as the new airport goes ‘wheels up’ for its opening.
“This new offering is going to provide the world with direct access to one of the nation’s fastest growing visitor economies, and we look forward to welcoming the first international visitors into Western Sydney,” he says.
“The state government’s investments are helping to realise the enormous potential of our visitor economy; this is an important milestone towards achieving our ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure by 2035.”
OUR EARLIER STORY: Singapore Airlines the first overseas carrier for WSI airport
