Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[dajop]

On WSI lounges, notices this snippet in the PER Airport Master Plan (draft) just published.



I wonder whether some of the smaller Australian airports (eg. PEE, WSI, ADL, OOL) are pushing this.

The big difference in Australia I guess is the differential level of security (particularly liquids) and access (ticket required for international)

I guess the closest you get to this is OOL, where you go through to the domestic departure lounge, before proceeding through additional security and immigration to the international gates which is a much smaller space.

 

[SeaWolf]

I guess the closest you get to this is OOL, where you go through to the domestic departure lounge, before proceeding through additional security and immigration to the international gates which is a much smaller space.

ADL and CBR have that as well.
I'd be curious to know what airports overseas are doing the co-mingling of domestic and international passengers. I don't think I've ever seen it.

 

[Aeryn]

I'd be curious to know what airports overseas are doing the co-mingling of domestic and international passengers. I don't think I've ever seen it.

US airports commonly have domestic and international passengers in the same terminal - this is because USA doesnt do outgoing immigration checks (just ID check at check-in) ; they rely on airline data to know that you actually left.

And they dont offer true transit do force you to clear immigration and enter the USA even if flying onwards straight away.

 

[SeaWolf]

US airports commonly have domestic and international passengers in the same terminal - this is because USA doesnt do outgoing immigration checks (just ID check at check-in) ; they rely on airline data to know that you actually left.

Oh yes, good point. I'd forgotten about the US system of doing it. I think they're the only country (that I know of) that doesn't do outbound immigration checks.

 

[Aeryn]

Oh yes, good point. I'd forgotten about the US system of doing it. I think they're the only country (that I know of) that doesn't do outbound immigration checks.

At Buenos Aires' Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) its mostly domestic but they have a small number of inter-South American flights including to Brazil.

Common check-in and initial screening for the domestic, then once upstairs (quite hidden) an extra screening area for the 2 tiny gates that have international flights.

 

[SYD]

ADL and CBR have that as well.
I'd be curious to know what airports overseas are doing the co-mingling of domestic and international passengers. I don't think I've ever seen it.

I’m not sure what else they mean besides exactly that? Swing gates either directly to standard domestic arrivals / departures or from the secure ABF control space for departures (and seperate international arrivals).

 

[moa999]

guess the closest you get to this is OOL,

I read PERs description as looking for something different - notably the word "common" - ie. Combining domestic and international departure areas.

Possibly check-in, international immigration, back to common departure area, and then maybe a final separate security check to gate lounge (like say SIN)

 

[SYD]

I read PERs description as looking for something different - notably the word "common" - ie. Combining domestic and international departure areas.

Possibly check-in, international immigration, back to common departure area, and then maybe a final separate security check to gate lounge (like say SIN)

and ABF smartgates / biometrics?

 

[Himeno]

I’m not sure what else they mean besides exactly that? Swing gates either directly to standard domestic arrivals / departures or from the secure ABF control space for departures (and seperate international arrivals).

NRT T2 has a number of swing gates
They can close doors across the main international departures corridor and block off gates 64-68 for domestic use.

Domestic and International have their own separate check in, security, lounge/shops, and baggage areas.

Don't know what the swing gates at CBR look like. They are on the VA side of the terminal and the last time I used VA, they were still DJ.

 

[kookaburra75]

Don't know what the swing gates at CBR look like. They are on the VA side of the terminal and the last time I used VA, they were still DJ.

International flights from Canberra depart from Gate 5. To check in for international you head up to the International Departures door which is opposite the entrance to the Virgin Lounge, where you can then clear immigration etc. To get to your flight, you go down to Gate 5 and that part of the airport is closed off to other passengers, for departures and arrivals.

 

[SYD]

International flights from Canberra depart from Gate 5. To check in for international you head up to the International Departures door which is opposite the entrance to the Virgin Lounge, where you can then clear immigration etc. To get to your flight, you go down to Gate 5 and that part of the airport is closed off to other passengers, for departures and arrivals.
View attachment 473367

For clarity, “check in” (bag drop etc) is still before security? Then head to the lounge of choice / available before heading to the international departures area. Those doors near the VA lounges are the separation between Dom and Int PAX.

 

[Himeno]

International flights from Canberra depart from Gate 5. To check in for international you head up to the International Departures door which is opposite the entrance to the Virgin Lounge, where you can then clear immigration etc. To get to your flight, you go down to Gate 5 and that part of the airport is closed off to other passengers, for departures and arrivals.
View attachment 473367

Last time I arrived at CBR, there was an FJ aircraft parked at gate 7.

 

[kookaburra75]

For clarity, “check in” (bag drop etc) is still before security? Then head to the lounge of choice / available before heading to the international departures area. Those doors near the VA lounges are the separation between Dom and Int PAX.

Yes, and yes.

Last time I arrived at CBR, there was an FJ aircraft parked at gate 7.

Hmmm. Not sure how they would manage the separate access then, between domestic and international. I haven't used FJ, just QR and SQ in the past - but then that was a little while ago.

 

[elanshin]

First jet aircraft to land at Sydney’s new airport as testing ramps up

The date has been set for the 737’s touchdown at the $6 billion Western Sydney Airport, a year out from the first passengers passing through its terminal.

www.smh.com.au

The NSW Rural Fire Service will land its Boeing 737 air tanker – named the Marie Bashir – on Western Sydney Airport’s new runway on October 28 as part of a multi-agency emergency exercise. The firebombing 737 will be used to test a full-scale response to a simulated aircraft emergency.

“737s are the most common plane in Australian skies and will be a mainstay on the runways and taxiways of Western Sydney International when it opens in the second half of 2026,” she said.

First 737 has now landed at WSI this morning.

 

[kamchatsky]

It is exciting to see the first 737 landing at WSI. Building a new airport is almost a once in a lifetime opportunity. By 2040 I expect that the nearby area will be completely filled with houses. So it is good that NSW and Federal Government actually planned and built this ahead for long term future.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Surprised that the RFS has a 737!

 

[markis10]

Surprised that the RFS has a 737!

They have had it for a few years in conjunction with Coulson, following the NSCA model from the 80s equipment is used here for the fire season then heads to America for theirs. They also have a chinook, which was fighting fires on the north coast on the weekend when I spotted her from the Pacifiv highway.

Previously they leased Tanker 137, which crashed in WA Feb 23

NSW to acquire its own large air tanker

The New South Wales state government plans to acquire its own large air tanker (LAT), which will be the first of its kind to be permanently based in Australia.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[Doddler]

Just popping over from a Project Sunrise thread on the Qantas section, as we got talking about curfews at Sydney and if WSI would become a possibility for those flights. I think we all agreed that it wouldn't.

Now, for potential international flights to WSI, is domestic connectivity going to be key, or are there types of international arrivals that don't really need passengers being able to easily transfer elsewhere to be commercially viable?

 

[HS-TQE]

Just popping over from a Project Sunrise thread on the Qantas section, as we got talking about curfews at Sydney and if WSI would become a possibility for those flights. I think we all agreed that it wouldn't.

Now, for potential international flights to WSI, is domestic connectivity going to be key, or are there types of international arrivals that don't really need passengers being able to easily transfer elsewhere to be commercially viable?

The Qantas group (QF and JQ) has not confirmed any plans for international flights out of WSI and is unlikely to eventuate for the short term with the tiny chance of DPS.

DPS on JQ may be possible, but it would likely be at the expense of SYD capacity as part of the Indonesia-Australia bilateral.

Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines flights from WSI to AKL and SIN respectively are likely to be almost entirely O&D from the WSI end., and likely timed to connect into their hub banks in AKL and SIN respectively.

NZ's former bilateral partner VA (now a unilateral Travel Agent partner of NZ) has zero influence on NZ's flying operations out of WSI and NZ's bilateral domestic partner QF will continue to have connections handled out of SYD.

Whilst VA current Asian region partner SQ are likely relying almost entirely on WSI O&D and seems to be doing regional flying themselves (CNS and DRW) instead of relying on VA for connections.

VA has not confirmed any plans for WSI flying and is increasingly unlikely to commence any WSI flying for NW26/27 with just over 11 months to go before WSI opens for passenger operations.