kabarsula WSI built to overtake Sydney Airport, CEO says bandar SLOT INDONESIA
Usually, passengers clap when a plane lands. Today there were crowds cheering as Air New Zealand’s inaugural international flight took off from Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), marking a new era for Sydney’s latest aviation gateway.
WSI chief executive officer Simon Hickey said the airport had been designed to become Sydney’s primary airport over time, with the capacity to scale as demand grows.
“We’ve designed the airport so that we can effectively and efficiently grow up to 82 million annual passengers,” Hickey told media, including Travel Weekly.
“To give you an idea, that’s the size of Heathrow Airport today.”
More than 40 years in the making, the airport has been built with long-term growth in mind, allowing it to scale as Western Sydney’s population and aviation demand increase.
“The airport is built for the next century. We can continue to grow in line with demand,” Hickey said.
Within just over a year, travellers are expected to have access to more than 250 destinations across Australia and around the world through WSI.
“That’s not a bad start for Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than 50 years,” Hickey said. “And, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, Australia’s best airport.”
Pointing to Western Sydney’s growing population and economic potential, Hickey said he expected further airlines to follow.
“Airlines are going to come because people are going to come,” he said.
First international flights
The excitement was palpable in the departures lounge as the airport welcomed its first international passengers, just one day after officially opening and receiving its first commercial domestic flights.
First passenger flight takes off from WSI as Australia opens first major airport in 50 years
Travel Weekly was on the ground as Air New Zealand became the first international carrier to operate from WSI, with flight NZ165 arriving from Auckland this morning before the return service, NZ166, departed for New Zealand.
Air New Zealand chief operations officer – Ground and Inflight, Kate Boyer, said the airline was thrilled to be part of the milestone.
“We’ve always had this sort of pioneering spirit in Air New Zealand,” she said.
Boyer said the new service would strengthen connections between Australia and New Zealand, particularly for Western Sydney’s large New Zealand and Pasifika communities, as well as creating opportunities for tourism, trade and business in the region.
“It’s really an amazing opportunity to create another connection between Australia and New Zealand,” she said.
Building Australia’s aviation future
The airline will initially focus on its Auckland services, but Boyer said it was continuing to consider opportunities for expansion.
“We see the pathways of growth there, but we’re always looking at next opportunities for expansion,” she said.
Hickey said WSI’s 24-hour operations would give airlines greater flexibility and travellers more choice, as population growth increasingly shifts towards Western Sydney.
“We know the population is going to continue to grow. The eyes of Sydney are moving west,” he said.
“The future looks bright.”
The airport’s international launch is the latest milestone for Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than 50 years. WSI is preparing to welcome Singapore Airlines next month, with further international connections to follow.
For Boyer, the airport’s opening represents the beginning of a much longer journey.
“In some ways, it’s a finish line, but in more important ways, it’s a starting line,” Boyer said. “And I think it’s a starting line for the next generation of Australian aviation.”
Digital arrivals at WSI
WSI has also become the first Australian airport to introduce the Federal Government’s new Australia Travel Declaration (ATD), a digital alternative to the traditional paper Incoming Passenger Card.
International passengers can submit their immigration, customs and biosecurity information electronically before arrival, helping streamline the arrivals process and allowing visitors to begin their Australian journeys sooner.
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