Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[elanshin]

Will be absolute state of the art.
2 minutes from aircraft to terminal via fully automated loading platforms with direct docking

Yeh in which case i would imagine all of those systems would need some serious testing too and it'd be just as convoluted as the incoming passengers stuff.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Will be absolute state of the art.
2 minutes from aircraft to terminal via fully automated loading platforms with direct docking

Yeh in which case i would imagine all of those systems would need some serious testing too and it'd be just as convoluted as the incoming passengers stuff.

Then yes, commissioning will take potentially longer than they expect

 

[L2.]

There's been some information released relating to proposed local bus services to WSI:

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/new-bus-services-for-western-sydney

What is relevant to me, is that from the south-west the proposed service from Campbelltown has an estimated journey time of 66 minutes, which is unappealing compared to the current rail journey time to SYD of 45 minutes.

Not to mention that it's an easy cross-platform interchange between the Southern Highlands line and the City via Airport service at present, as opposed to needing to exit the station, potentially involving traipsing over a bridge with suitcases, to catch a bus to WSI.

 

[kamchatsky]

WSI Metro will be opening late (April 2027):

Late opening for $11 billion metro line to Sydney’s new international airport

The delayed opening of the 23-kilometre metro line means the first passengers to touch down at the new airport will be denied the chance to catch a train.

www.smh.com.au

Still earlier than a train to MEL. So I won’t be complaining.

 

[n7of9]

From the text in the link "denied the chance to catch a train"...so dramatic! Like it's a violation of human rights

 

[justinbrett]

PM has pledged $1B to fund heavy rail between Leppington and WSI

 

[SYD]

If it happens, it’ll probably be better than extending the new western metro. Easier to put limited stops service on the heavy network.

 

[clifford]

If it happens, it’ll probably be better than extending the new western metro. Easier to put limited stops service on the heavy network.

Couldn't agree more. You have to ask who are the most likely people to use this airport (not me, for sure, as an ACT resident, but ex-Western Sydney resident). Could easily turn out to be a white(ish) elephant looking a little like AVV. Poor transport links, poor patronage.

Build it and they will come (well maybe not).

 

[TomVexille]

SMH article today reported that WSI has been designated as a primary gateway airport under air rights agreements. With a provision to review after 12 month of operation.

Way to shoot the place in the foot.

 

[moa999]

Think that was always expected.

 

[elanshin]

If it happens, it’ll probably be better than extending the new western metro. Easier to put limited stops service on the heavy network.

Would also be a one train airport to airport link if they set up the services correctly.

Post automatically merged: Mar 13, 2025

SMH article today reported that WSI has been designated as a primary gateway airport under air rights agreements. With a provision to review after 12 month of operation.

Way to shoot the place in the foot.

I don't think it'll affect things too greatly. It's really only a small handful of airlines that this would affect.

 

[dajop]

Could easily turn out to be a white(ish) elephant looking a little like AVV. Poor transport links, poor patronage.

AVV is probably not a good comparison, simply because of its location relative to population centres. I think the number of people that live closer to WSI than SYD is about 5x the number of people that live closer to AVV than MEL. In reality there are about 5-6 suburbs of Melbourne ( that make up half a LGA) that are closer to AVV than MEL, and anyone else has to play the Westgate/Princes Fwy lottery to get there. This is very different to WSI. AVV's main population base is probably Geelong and beyond.

 

[jase05]

Couldn't agree more. You have to ask who are the most likely people to use this airport (not me, for sure, as an ACT resident, but ex-Western Sydney resident). Could easily turn out to be a white(ish) elephant looking a little like AVV. Poor transport links, poor patronage.

Build it and they will come (well maybe not).

It already has one thing going fo it at bat AVV doesn’t and that isfreight.
WSI will be the air freight hub of Australia whereas the various governments can’t even bribe freight to move to AVV

 

[elanshin]

It already has one thing going fo it at bat AVV doesn’t and that freight.
WSI will be the air freight hub of Australia

Not to mention it'll probably be the highest tech airport in the country. I suspect the PAX experience inside would be a lot smoother than SYD / MEL.

 

[jase05]

Not to mention it'll probably be the highest tech airport in the country. I suspect the PAX experience inside would be a lot smoother than SYD / MEL.

Yes, a very valid point.
Dependant on what airlines go out there I think from ADL if I’m connecting to International it may become a very good option and far better than the debacle that is SYD for connections. The more options the better

 

[justinbrett]

SMH article today reported that WSI has been designated as a primary gateway airport under air rights agreements. With a provision to review after 12 month of operation.

Way to shoot the place in the foot.

Melbourne includes Avalon in existing Air Services Agreements, unless the specific agreement says otherwise.

A couple do differentiate (I think Indonesia from memory) but most do not.

So no surprise WSI would be treated at least the same as Avalon.

 

[kamchatsky]

SMH article today reported that WSI has been designated as a primary gateway airport under air rights agreements. With a provision to review after 12 month of operation.

Way to shoot the place in the foot.

The article is here:

Sydney’s new airport to stay curfew-free but foreign airline barriers remain

The federal government faces growing calls for barriers to international airlines flying to the new airport to be eased.

www.smh.com.au

It is crazy that the givernment is doing this. Why spend all these money building up an airport and then have this provision?

I can see the opposition just say that they win government, they will make WSI secondary airport to get more flights to win seats in western Sydney.

 

[Himeno]

The article is here:

Sydney’s new airport to stay curfew-free but foreign airline barriers remain

The federal government faces growing calls for barriers to international airlines flying to the new airport to be eased.

www.smh.com.au

...

The government will likely end up backflipping about this. It does when it comes to airports.

 

[justinbrett]

The government will likely end up backflipping about this. It does when it comes to airports.

It can still be varied country by country as is the case with Avalon.

Once you release that restriction that's pretty much gone for good. Better to hold it and relax it on a case by case basis.

Simple fact is a foreign airline could still compete with SYD based airlines from WSI, and the success of WSI is not the only objective here.

 

[justinbrett]

<redacted>

By that logic why have Air Services Agreements at all? Operate like Africa / South America where 5th freedom / cabotage (8th) is the norm, no restrictions, the more competition the better.

The capacity restrictions in these agreements have nothing to do with airport slot availability, they are not there to preserve slots at the major airports. They are there to balance competition, and the lack of restrictions in regional airports (in many agreements, but not all) are to encourage new services to these airports which can do with the extra freight & tourism.

As above, nothing stopping them right now for updating individual agreements to give extra capacity to WSI. No need to make it carte blanche for all airlines.