Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[Eastwick20]

Look no one is expecting Western Sydney Airport to be a major hub with hundreds of flights from day one or even the 1st decade I would argue.

It hasn’t been built for today’s demand, its been built to future proof aviation in Sydney, which like it or not is the main gateway to Australia for Business/Leisure and will most likely remain so.

I think the fact that they’ve built a relatively modest terminal designed for light traffic in the early years but one that can be expanded easily when needed seems sensible and realistic to me?

Of course, SYD will always remain the most popular airport because of its proximity to the CBD but the hard reality is it has physical limitations and at some point there will be no room left to expand, then what?

I live in Melbourne so I have no skin in the game but I don't get negativity around WSI
Hasn't WSI been built to complement, not take away from SYD?

Surely having 2 great airport choices depending on what's going to suit you best is a good thing right?

 

[mel-world]

I agree. I've been following along here slightly bemused by the negativity towards WSI in this thread.

So many major cities have (and need) a space constricted airport close to the centre and another major facility a long way from town. HND/NRT and GMP/ICN are just two examples that come to mind. Given time WSI could well be a busy facility given its 24 hour operation and space for more freight facilities. It would need a dedicated express train but there is time for that - us Melbournites are still waiting.

 

[kookaburra75]

It would need a dedicated express train but there is time for that - us Melbournites are still waiting.

It did take 80 years for SYD to get a train connection. And in Melbourne, at least Essendon Airport had a tram connection before they opened up the 'new' joint out at Tullamarine. I can still remember the press at the time (I was very young then...) when they said no-one wanted to spend the extra time to go out to Tullamarine, as it was in the middle of nowhere.... sound familiar?

 

[AuSammy]

when they said no-one wanted to spend the extra time to go out to Tullamarine, as it was in the middle of nowhere.... sound familiar

I remember in my youth similar naysayers saying Tullamarine was a “white elephant” and a total waste of money

 

[kookaburra75]

I remember in my youth similar naysayers saying Tullamarine was a “white elephant” and a total waste of money

It was pretty cool when Concorde flew in and you could go and walk through it. I'm not sure what WSI could pull off to match that.

 

[Aeryn]

MEL is 20km from Melbourne CBD, WSI is 50km from Sydney CBD. SYD at 10kms from CBD will always have a huge advantage over WSI for tourists and most Sydneysiders.

When Tullamarine opened it replaced Essenden so it was always guaranteed usage because there was no alternative. So not really a comparative situation to WSI, where SYD is a real alternative.

Avalon (which is only 5kms further from CBD than WSI) on the otherhand has never really built up a decent user base. Much closer situation to WSI, secondary with fewer passenger services.

 

[AuSammy]

MEL is 20km from Melbourne CBD, WSI is 50km from Sydney CBD. SYD at 10kms from CBD will always have a huge advantage over WSI for tourists and most Sydneysiders.

When Tullamarine opened it replaced Essenden so it was always guaranteed usuage because there was no alternative. Avalon (which is only 5kms further from CBD than WSI) on the otherhand has never really built up a decent user base.

Im absolutely sure every poster in this thread is more than fully aware of your attitude to WSI.

 

[Aeryn]

Im absolutely sure every poster in this thread is more than fully aware of your attitude to WSI.

Not sure what you have a problem with facts. The distances involved are real not an opinion, not related to attitude.

 

[AuSammy]

Not sure what you have a problem with facts. The distances involved are real not an opinion, not related to attitude.

And how many times have you stated repeated that in this thread?

 

[clifford]

And how many times have you stated repeated that in this thread?

Why not play the ball and not the man? He has a valid point of view.

 

[jase05]

MEL is 20km from Melbourne CBD, WSI is 50km from Sydney CBD. SYD at 10kms from CBD will always have a huge advantage over WSI for tourists and most Sydneysiders.

Which is fine but for near on 3m people WSI will be a far better option.
You have a population of more than Adelaide and Perth combined that will be more than happy to have a convenient airport.
It’s all about future proofing the region.

 

[Chatswood]

Why not play the ball and not the man? He has a valid point of view.

Because this thread has had many discussions over and over again about the same thing, and the doom believers bring up the viability of the airport again and again. There really is no point retreading old ground.

Remember two weeks ago when you lot were almost giddy with glee on how nobody’s “confirmed to fly out of WSI yet”? It’s almost possible to tell which posters live east of Strathfield.

 

[elanshin]

MEL is 20km from Melbourne CBD, WSI is 50km from Sydney CBD. SYD at 10kms from CBD will always have a huge advantage over WSI for tourists and most Sydneysiders.

When Tullamarine opened it replaced Essenden so it was always guaranteed usage because there was no alternative. So not really a comparative situation to WSI, where SYD is a real alternative.

Avalon (which is only 5kms further from CBD than WSI) on the otherhand has never really built up a decent user base. Much closer situation to WSI, secondary with fewer passenger services.

And NRT is 70+ km from Tokyo without any transport links when it was built.

As we're all saying in this thread and has been discussed at length, why are we trying to look to have it fail. It's built. It's about to roll out. It's Australia's most advanced airport technologically.

Perhaps its not for you and that's fine, take WSI off your flight search, wish it well and see how it does in 5 years.

 

[AuSammy]

Why not play the ball and not the man? He has a valid point of view.

We all have a valid point of view. I would posit the view that every person in this thread knows where WSI is and we don’t need to be reminded on a daily basis.

WSI was not built to replace SYD.
WSI is not open yet.
SYD will remain for those who prefer it.
SYD for the foreseeable future will be the primary airport for the city of Sydney
Many people will not use it. That doesn’t mean others won’t
The catchment area for WSI is larger than three states of Australia and many will come to use it in future decades.
WSI is very warmly welcomed by many Logistics and Transport operators.
Airfreight operators can’t wait for it to open.
Three passenger airlines have decided on facts available to them, besides the fact the airport not being open yet and no runs on the board, to commit to flights there.
Everyone knows after repeated posts on here that public transport is not yet in place.
After 56years, Tullamarine still doesn't have train facilities. SYD did not have a rail connection for 80years and only got it because of the Olympics. BNE did not have a rail connection for 75 years.

Posters are free to be naysayers or supporters but please bring new information and not just repeat ad finitum.

 

[SYD]

We all have a valid point of view. I would posit the view that every person in this thread knows where WSI is and we don’t need to be reminded on a daily basis.

WSI was not built to replace SYD.
WSI is not open yet.
SYD will remain for those who prefer it.
SYD for the foreseeable future will be the primary airport for the city of Sydney
Many people will not use it. That doesn’t mean others won’t
The catchment area for WSI is larger than three states of Australia and many will come to use it in future decades.
WSI is very warmly welcomed by many Logistics and Transport operators.
Airfreight operators can’t wait for it to open.
Three passenger airlines have decided on facts available to them, besides the fact the airport not being open yet and no runs on the board, to commit to flights there.
Everyone knows after repeated posts on here that public transport is not yet in place.
After 56years, Tullamarine still doesn't have train facilities. SYD did not have a rail connection for 80years and only got it because of the Olympics. BNE did not have a rail connection for 75 years.

Posters are free to be naysayers or supporters but please bring new information and not just repeat ad finitum.

Tickets on sale BTW!

Thread 'Flights to/from WSI starting 23 November 2026'

Mar 24, 2026

Looks like Executive Traveller posted their article a bit too early: https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/singapore-airlines-western-sydney-airport

• SQ202 will depart WSI at 11:55pm, arriving in Singapore at 5:05am the following day
• SQ201 leaves Singapore Changi Airport at 11:30am to reach WSI at 10:20pm

• kerfuffle
• Replies: 39
• Forum: Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer

 

[offshore171]

This thing needs a fast, dedicated train to the city.

Along the lines of. Narita Express, Heathrow Express, Leonardo Express etc.

That’s what’s needed when you build new airports far out from the city in the 21st century.

Especially in a major 5 million pop city.

Should have been in the plans from day 1

 

[LionKing]

This thing needs a fast, dedicated train to the city.

Along the lines of. Narita Express, Heathrow Express, Leonardo Express etc.

That’s what’s needed when you build new airports far out from the city in the 21st century.

Especially in a major 5 million pop city.

Should have been in the plans from day 1

Do we really need trains when they lack social distancing, completely overpriced and potentially have thugs on who may attack you with machetes on board?

I don't think railways should be built, rather dedicated coach/bus service to city would do.

Should Skybus in Melbourne was not overpriced, I actually didn't see a problem of having dedicated bus service to city where you have porters to lift baggages into the baggage hold, more comfortable seating and better security.

Of course nothing beats Uber, where you earn 10.5 Qantas points per dollar spent* (*with gift cards from Woolworths), and friendly and efficient drivers scoot you to your destination with ease.

 

[SeatBackForward]

One thing's apparent from this thread - the definition of "Sydney" is up for grabs, and most likely skewed by one's own biases.


If we separate out "Sydney Region" from "Sydney City" the conversation makes more sense. WSI is there to service the Sydney region, most specifically Western Sydney. You could arguable say that then captures Parramatta City, Liverpool City, Penrith City and probably a few more.

 

[AuSammy]

This thing needs a fast, dedicated train to the city.

Along the lines of. Narita Express, Heathrow Express, Leonardo Express etc.

That’s what’s needed when you build new airports far out from the city in the 21st century.

Especially in a major 5 million pop city.

Should have been in the plans from day 1

Most government projects go through a theoretical ROI process to decide where to spend the tax payers dollars. For an airport that won’t have oodles of passengers for maybe a decade ot two, it wouldn’t measure up when compared to other priorities. It wasn’t until 2000 that SYD got a rail link despite being at the time the busiest airport in the country.

 

[moa999]

This thing needs a fast, dedicated train to the city.

Would be needed if WSI was a replacement airport for SYD. Its not.