Singapore Airlines to launch daily flights to Western Sydney Airport from November 23
Singapore Airlines will launch flights to Sydney’s new $6 billion international airport on November 23, taking advantage of the absence of a curfew; Other carriers may start serving the new aviation hub weeks in advance.
Despite the escalating fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, the Asian airline decided to land flight SQ201 at Western Sydney Airport at 10.20pm on 23 November, heralding the start of a daily return service between Western Sydney and Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The return flight to Singapore is scheduled to depart at 23.55 the same day; this was something the airline was unable to do at the time due to a 23:00 to 6:00 curfew from Sydney Airport.
Western Sydney Airport general manager Simon Hickey said the fuel crisis had created a “dynamic situation” for airlines but stressed the aviation industry was “very resilient”.
“It’s a long game and it shows: [Singapore Airlines’] “Trust the airport,” he said, and continued: “Airlines… are really, really good at managing crises.” “No matter what comes, we will continue on our way.”
Singapore Airlines will fly its Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the new route with a capacity of 40 passengers in business class and 263 passengers in economy class. Tickets for daily roundtrip flights go on sale on Wednesday.
The opening of the new airport on the western outskirts of the city will increase the number of Singapore Airlines’ daily flights to Sydney to five. It currently operates four daily flights to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.
Hickey said that the launch of flights was a historic moment for the long-promised airport, whose construction started in 2018.
He reiterated that the airport would be ready for passenger flights by the end of October, but declined to say whether partner airlines Qantas, Jetstar or Air New Zealand would start service before Singapore Airlines.
“I leave it up to the airlines to announce their own schedules and flights as they see fit,” he said. “I’ll just say there may be flights earlier than that.”
Singapore Airlines senior vice president Dai Haoyu said the late-night departure from western Sydney would provide passengers with a seamless journey and connections to other flights via Changi Airport.
“Singapore Airlines’ services to Australia’s newest gateway in Western Sydney will deliver greater choice and strengthen connectivity,” he said.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King welcomed Singapore Airlines’ commitment to launch flights and said the release of tickets for the route would allow people to start planning travel.
Qantas and its budget arm Jetstar have committed to: Basing of 15 domestic aircraft at the state-owned airport within a year of its opening.
Air New Zealand has previously signaled its intention to resume flights from the middle of next year. The Kiwi flag carrier and Singapore Airlines have benefited from $16 million in funding backed by the NSW government, aimed at encouraging international airlines to fly to the new airport.
Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand have been contacted for comment on their latest intentions.
Virgin Australia has previously said it is “looking closely” at the opportunity in Western Sydney and assessing the network and program that will best serve its customers.
Hickey said the airport will open to cargo planes towards the end of July and that cargo terminal operators Qantas and Menzies are working on their schedules.
Sydney Airport puts a shot across the bows of its new rival. Combine terminals T2 and T3 12 new gates for both domestic and international aircraft have emerged, transforming into a single zone at Mascot.
The privately operated airport predicts that the number of annual passengers will increase by 75 percent to 72 million by 2045. In comparison, Western Sydney Airport expects 8.4 million passengers per year by 2030 and 19.3 million passengers by 2045.
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Matt O’Sullivan is the transport and infrastructure editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
