Major SYD expansion

[arrow]

Shortly before COVID, articles appeared tegarding a plan to make T2 & T3 a combined terminal. There was some oneworld conjecture around this but nothing specific.

https://downloads.ctfassets.net/v228i5y5k0x4/4GorpbN4C4wAwACeOAiC22/21782f39f81a7749d9e08d0c8a1d9595/Master_Plan_2033_complete_document-min.pdf

The previous plan was quite different. There would be a oneworld terminal and a Star Alliance / Other terminal which means the delineation of domestic and international would cease to exist a bit like what you have at most US airports

 

[moa999]

If anything it will ensure Dash 8s are parked remotely, the “new gates” look to replace the current basement Dash 8 gates from what I can see.

See the post by SYD with new T3 North Pier.
(Also seems to demolish a few maintenance sheds)

The detail in the actual document contains more, but nothing about time line or priorities.. Seems more like a slap dash of ideas.

Other things I noted. Multi level carparks for T8 and T9 (near the control tower). A replacement P1 (over Prime Park). Possibly 250-300 room hotel as part of P1/ terminal combination.
Some consideration of protecting sites for a new control tower.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Two new international gates will not solve all the issues with overcrowding in the morning.
Surely they should look to move freight across to where the Blue Emu car park is an extended the international terminal past gate 8 to where freight currently is.

I suppose this means any hope of a refurb to QF pub and J lounge in T3 is off the cards for several more years.

See the post by SYD with new T3 North Pier.
(Also seems to demolish a few maintenance sheds)

But when you look at it, maybe only 2 or 3 actual new gates?
Probably a lot of retail space!

Edit: what’s missing in that rendering is the new T2C pier! The aircraft are shown parked either side but no building!

The privately run AU airports are firstly retail shopping-food centers with expensive (very profitable) car parks, with captive shoppers, that happen to have pesky aircraft taking up ground area.

 

[kookaburra75]

The privately run AU airports are firstly retail shopping-food centers with expensive (very profitable) car parks, with captive shoppers, that happen to have pesky aircraft taking up ground area.

And in Canberra, a commercial property development opportunity - although as a local I'm glad they did as the quality of the offices and surrounds is better than what was available.

 

[levelnine]

Does this mean JQ pax will be able to easily access the SYD lounges again?

If so, QF better be planning some expansions for those lounges!

 

[Saab34]

The privately run AU airports are firstly retail shopping-food centers with expensive (very profitable) car parks, with captive shoppers, that happen to have pesky aircraft taking up ground area.

That’s Australia as a whole now. We sold ourselves out years ago.

 

[SYD]

Does this mean JQ pax will be able to easily access the SYD lounges again?

If so, QF better be planning some expansions for those lounges!

The diagram posted earlier includes “Airline lounges” in the description of the (A) “The new Western Concourse”. There’s also proposed upgrades to the eastern end of T3 plus a “New T3 North Pier” (mentioned earlier).

There’s also a proposed entire “New Pier 2C” but I doubt VA will be investing in new lounges anytime soon.

 

[Big John]

It doesn't matter how much they enhance the terminals. The traffic outside will still be a nightmare !

I just hope the access fee for the train station ends in 2030. Hopefully, that will encourage more people to take the train rather than use Ubers / taxis to get to the airport.

 

[Spamam]

Maybe they can get Ubers to take us from the terminal to the aircraft. Big opportunity for ride shares. What could possible go wrong.

 

[LionKing]

Maybe they can get Ubers to take us from the terminal to the aircraft. Big opportunity for ride shares. What could possible go wrong.

I am not opposed to the idea at all.
In particular, if you are seated in Business and you need to board from remote stand, you should have a private car to fetch you.

 

[RickyD]

Sydney (SYD) is planning for a major expansion, which will see T2 and T3 linked together, allowing international service from the combined terminal.

It will also include driverless buses between T1 and T2/3, and 2 new gates at T1.

This might help a little, but not enough. I don't understand why the neighbouring Kogarah Golf Course cannot be demolished, and give way for another pier for more international flights to park?

Moreover, why waste money on driverless buses when simply scrapping public transport fares in NSW will allow a free, frequent train transfer between T1 and T2/3?

It seems there's too much to promise, but nothing to deliver the problem where passengers are strapped up in seat and sash belt in an upright position for 30 minutes to wait for an international gate, and stress to rush through immigration to check in their bags and cram onto a bus for the next domestic service.

Sydney Airport unveils largest terminal expansion since the Olympics

Up to 14 new gates are planned as Sydney airport prepares for the launch of its rival in western Sydney late next year.

www.smh.com.au

The golf course was sold to a developer and there’s the small issue of a river between the airport and the old golf course.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @RickyD

 

[HS-TQE]

The earlier plan had T2/T3 as a QF/Oneworld/Partners (EK) terminal which was opposed by VA iirc, stating that they didn't want to move because T1 was far away from the CBD.

The plans going by a brief look, looks like the international pier could be a short/medium haul international terminal, hence JQ, QF, VA, NZ, FJ and maybe OD. It looks like there may be space for at least 2 widebody gates in the renderings, would allow NZ/QF for Tasman and Bali ops.

At the same time it moves all of VA International 737 operations (Bali, Fiji, Queenstown, Pacific Islands) under the one roof, although those connecting from VAd to VA's international long haul partners would still need to get the tarmac bus to T1.

 

[HS-TQE]

The diagram posted earlier includes “Airline lounges” in the description of the (A) “The new Western Concourse”. There’s also proposed upgrades to the eastern end of T3 plus a “New T3 North Pier” (mentioned earlier).

There’s also a proposed entire “New Pier 2C” but I doubt VA will be investing in new lounges anytime soon.

I'd suspect VA may have some interest in Pier 2C, but not in its current proposal, possibly in a scaled back form and only if they decide not to enter WSI in the short/medium term.

If VA does show interest, things may probably get rolling somewhere around the FY27 period when Bain probably further gradually sells down from their current 40% shareholding and the fleet replacement period (where new 737-8s and E2s replaces older 737s and the A320s/F100s) of FY26 passes by.

 

[SYD]

I'd suspect VA may have some interest in Pier 2C, but not in its current proposal, possibly in a scaled back form and only if they decide not to enter WSI in the short/medium term.

If VA does show interest, things may probably get rolling somewhere around the FY27 period when Bain probably further gradually sells down from their current 40% shareholding and the fleet replacement period (where new 737-8s and E2s replaces older 737s and the A320s/F100s) of FY26 passes by.

I suspect the priority for the owners is the T2/T3 connector (reported on the TV could be open by 2030) for the retail space opportunity. Hence the artist impressions ignoring the other proposed piers

You’d expect QF are onboard. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a new J lounge and let the QP take over the entire current space.

Some extra gates at T1 would also be high priority for them.

 

[utaussiefan]

The connector between T2 & 3 has been spoken about for almost 25 years, Geoff Dixon spoke about it when Jetstar and QantasLink first started using T2. It is something that probably should have happened a long time ago. Removing the old terminal remnants and the tidying up gates 16-19 and allowing a land side connection to T2 would be really beneficial for QF & JQ. A bit off topic but I always thought had they already had the landside transfer between the two terminals, Jetstar would have made sense moving their check in to the vast space of T3 check in hall while T2 is under renovations.

 

[elanshin]

I suspect the priority for the owners is the T2/T3 connector (reported on the TV could be open by 2030) for the retail space opportunity. Hence the artist impressions ignoring the other proposed piers

You’d expect QF are onboard. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a new J lounge and let the QP take over the entire current space.

Some extra gates at T1 would also be high priority for them.

I wonder also in the longer run if QF F would be taken over by QF J and they build another QF F elsewhere at T1.

 

[moa999]

I tend to agree with HS-TQE that this combined T2/T3 international terminal will likely be for NZ and South Pacific, which would also reduce loads on QFs T1 lounges and give them some breathing space.
(Suspect the NZ routes have high premium FFs)

Probably replaced by a 'cheaper' QF combined lounges in the new international terminal.

With the upside that it probably allows for lower minimum check-in times for NZ and SP flights