Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[jase05]

And we've already seen SQ sign-on.

I think it’s only the SQ group that’s has signed on so could be Scoot initially

 

[clifford]

Is that a huge assumption that WSI candidate travellers can't afford J?? I suspect that would be a very wrong assumption to make.

I could be considered to be a WSI "candidate". living in the ACT. Well, it's closer than KSA, but a hell of a lot harder to get to.

As a J traveller, I would see absolutely no reason to fly out of WSI. Problematic location, no lounges worth talking about (if any at all), very little else to get excited about. So affording it isn't part of the equation. It's basically just going to be a freight airport for the next xx years.

Yes, offload the LCC's to there from SYD (by mandate) and all is rosy, and I'm sure the regular SYD users would vote for that. I'd vote for that.

 

[moa999]

but a hell of a lot harder to get to.

How do you normally get to SYD

 

[jase05]

I could be considered to be a WSI "candidate". living in the ACT. Well, it's closer than KSA, but a hell of a lot harder to get to.

As a J traveller, I would see absolutely no reason to fly out of WSI. Problematic location, no lounges worth talking about (if any at all), very little else to get excited about. So affording it isn't part of the equation. It's basically just going to be a freight airport for the next xx years.

Yes, offload the LCC's to there from SYD (by mandate) and all is rosy, and I'm sure the regular SYD users would vote for that. I'd vote for that.

A lot depends on connections too. For us we despise transiting through SYD and my parents who live near Canberra are the same. If we don’t fly from ADL we prefer MEL and will only ever use SYD if we have an overnight stay. If connections from here were good at WSI I’d definitely use it as a transit airport and with no curfew hopefully it opens up some new services or slots

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm in a similar boat. From HBA, I can really choose any from ADL, MEL or SYD as my Australian departure port. I avoid SYD whenever I can. I'd be happy to transit WSI and I think fares might be pitched to encourage that.

And @clifford , when you say no lounge to speak of (if any) - do you think that will always be the case?

 

[SYD]

I'm in a similar boat. From HBA, I can really choose any from ADL, MEL or SYD as my Australian departure port. I avoid SYD whenever I can. I'd be happy to transit WSI and I think fares might be pitched to encourage that.

And @clifford , when you say no lounge to speak of (if any) - do you think that will always be the case?

Pretty sure I read something (possibly a link posted up thread) that QF will have a lounge.

This very article implies lounges are coming.

“While major construction of the stunning WSI terminal is complete, the fit-out of the terminal’s retail precinct and airline lounges will take place closer to the airport’s opening.”

Inside the new airport terminal that will welcome the world to western Sydney • The Western Weekender

A look inside the stunning new terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, as it waits for its first passengers in just a year’s time.

westernweekender.com.au

 

[kamchatsky]

I think it’s only the SQ group that’s has signed on so could be Scoot initially

Or both. I can see both SQ and TR operating at WSI. SQ flying out of WSI at midnight arriving at SIN at 6am, connecting with all the morning flights out of SIN is very convenient for a lot of people.

 

[dairyfloss]

Various articles have said Qantas’ intent is to have 5 QF and 10 JQ jets operating out of WSI, initially. Is 20 or so single-aisle QF departures a day (excl. JQ) enough for investing in their own lounge? How would that compare to smaller ports with a QF-operated lounge? Perhaps a shared lounge for all airlines is where it begins.

 

[elanshin]

Or both. I can see both SQ and TR operating at WSI. SQ flying out of WSI at midnight arriving at SIN at 6am, connecting with all the morning flights out of SIN is very convenient for a lot of people.

I imagine CX and MH are both probably eyeing those time slots for the same reasons and seeing how operations end up working out. Maybe even the Taiwanese airlines since CI lands into TPE at around 4:30am during Daylight Saving which is a really awkward arrival time with minimal PT.

 

[justinbrett]

Pretty sure I read something (possibly a link posted up thread) that QF will have a lounge.

This very article implies lounges are coming.

“While major construction of the stunning WSI terminal is complete, the fit-out of the terminal’s retail precinct and airline lounges will take place closer to the airport’s opening.”

Inside the new airport terminal that will welcome the world to western Sydney • The Western Weekender

A look inside the stunning new terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, as it waits for its first passengers in just a year’s time.

westernweekender.com.au

It could be a contract lounge rather than airline operated.

I know NAPL (NTL) were looking at this as neither QFg or VA had the pax numbers to justify a lounge, but if NAPL operated the lounge, airlines would pay to let their pax in. I think there's a few airports in the UK that have this model.

 

[jase05]

I imagine CX and MH are both probably eyeing those time slots for the same reasons and seeing how operations end up working out. Maybe even the Taiwanese airlines since CI lands into TPE at around 4:30am during Daylight Saving which is a really awkward arrival time with minimal PT.

I wonder if TG or even QF to BKK is an option too. Currently I don’t believe there are any flights from SYD that arrive in BKK early morning. We love the TG462 service ex MEL and have another one coming up in October. The midnight flight offers excellent connections in BKK and often has us at our destination by lunchtime and allows me to get a full days work in before departure. I’d definitely look at similar of operated from WSI

 

[SYD]

I wonder if TG or even QF to BKK is an option too. Currently I don’t believe there are any flights from SYD that arrive in BKK early morning. We love the TG462 service ex MEL and have another one coming up in October. The midnight flight offers excellent connections in BKK and often has us at our destination by lunchtime and allows me to get a full days work in before departure. I’d definitely look at similar of operated from WSI

That’s going to be a key differentiator for WSI - curfew free ops. Not just freight.

If airlines can see an opportunity for better utilisation of aircraft, they could well swing assets there rather than have them sitting on the ground o/n somewhere else around the world.

 

[moa999]

See vid in 769, sign to "Premium Lounges" shown at 0.35, albeit seems to be landside.

Even say with 5 QF A220s, that's at least 50 biz class seats in the mornings let alone elites, which is think is sufficient for a Qantas Club.

 

[dairyfloss]

See vid in 769, sign to "Premium Lounges" shown at 0.35, albeit seems to be landside.

Even say with 5 QF A220s, that's at least 50 biz class seats in the mornings let alone elites, which is think is sufficient for a Qantas Club.

I think QF is planning to run E190s out of WSI to start with, but same J numbers, at least

 

[torks]

I'd be surprised if QF doesnt at least have a Qantas club lounge there initially.

It may also end up being the contract lounge (at least initially) for all the international airlines flying one service a day as well.

 

[RooFlyer]

lounge? How would that compare to smaller ports with a QF-operated lounge?

Certainly more flights than Hobart, although I wouldn’t recommend Hobart as a lounge standard. I mean Alice Springs as well Port Hedland I think has a lounge even darling domestically?

 

[clifford]

How do you normally get to SYD

Living in Canberra, usually by public transport. Either flying in from CBR or by train to Campbelltown, then changing for Mascot, then bus. Or, occasionally, Murrays bus direct to Intl terminal. If it's a very early flight I usually travel to Sydney the day before and stay overnight in a hotel. I've also been known to rent a car and drive to SYD early in the morning, although that's a bit of a pain (not to mention trying to avoid roos, wombats and other wildlife at 3 am)

I can't see any situation where WSI would come close in terms of convenience in my lifetime (well apart from possibly the rental car option). And if I wanted to travel up the day before, where would I stay?

 

[moa999]

Courtyard by Marriott already announced, as well as one other hotel building at either Bradfield or Business Park

Fairly direct bus from Campbeltown Station also on the books.

And I suspect at least initially that parking at WSI will be a lot cheaper than SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

That’s going to be a key differentiator for WSI - curfew free ops. Not just freight.

If airlines can see an opportunity for better utilisation of aircraft, they could well swing assets there rather than have them sitting on the ground o/n somewhere else around the world.

True for low cost airlines, but perhaps less so for legacy airlines if the latter perceive lower yields per available seat from WSI compared to say SYD or MEL. (The latter is also perceived as less 'premium heavy' than SYD but that's a comment for elsewhere).

 

[clifford]

True for low cost airlines, but perhaps less so for legacy airlines if the latter perceive lower yields per available seat from WSI compared to say SYD or MEL. (The latter is also perceived as less 'premium heavy' than SYD but that's a comment for elsewhere).

I might have been tempted when I was (much) younger, if it saved a few $$$. But now...

I couldn't begin to imagine a public bus journey from Campelltown to Badgerys Creek to start my oversears journey in J (with a basic generic lounge, at best, to comfort me while at the airport).

With mainly LCC's, including Jetstar, it wouldn't be very tempting at all. Some people may love WSI, but I doubt I'll be one of them.