Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[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'

Tuesday at 8:23 PM

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: 14
• 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.

 

[offshore171]

It wasn’t until 2000 that SYD got a rail link despite being at the time the busiest airport in the country.

Obviously a 100 year old airport, 10km from the CBD is a different scenario. Sydney had 1/6th of the population when Kingsford Smith was established.

I did say new builds far from the city. This joint is what, 65km out, and is opening in 2026? It should have a dedicated express train.

At busy times on the road, it's 1.5 hours of stop start traffic. If there's a crash or breakdowns, that can blow out to 2hours.

Look at what our Asian neighbours are doing. Kuala Lumpur is another example. Similar distance to the city, but only 30mins by express train, which is unaffected by road traffic.

 

[kamchatsky]

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

If HSR actually gets built, then that would take care of this requirement. Of course, that won't happen until 2040's, if it happens at all.

Then again, SYD is still operating so until SYD shuts down, WSI direct fast train requirement to city is optional, especially MEL doesn't even have one now.

 

[AuSammy]

Obviously a 100 year old airport, 10km from the CBD is a different scenario. Sydney had 1/6th of the population when Kingsford Smith was established.

I did say new builds far from the city. This joint is what, 65km out, and is opening in 2026? It should have a dedicated express train.

At busy times on the road, it's 1.5 hours of stop start traffic. If there's a crash or breakdowns, that can blow out to 2hours.

Look at what our Asian neighbours are doing. Kuala Lumpur is another example. Similar distance to the city, but only 30mins by express train, which is unaffected by road traffic.

KL doesn't have a convenient alternate airport close to the city as its prime airport. WSI is not intended for Eastern suburb and city centre folks and is not a replacement for SYD

Why would anyone living on the beaches and city area not select the most appropriate airport for their travel?

Travellers don’t seem to have trouble differentiating between MEL and AVV

 

[SeatBackForward]

Why would anyone living on the beaches and city area not select the most appropriate airport for their travel?

If ....no, When the routes, schedules or fares that an airline can offer out of WSI starts being more attractive !

 

[SYD]

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

The metro will traverse a fair chunk of the Western Sydney airport catchment. Yes, it’s a shame it won’t be operating on day one, but that was the original plan.

If ....no, When the routes, schedules or fares that an airline can offer out of WSI starts being more attractive !

There is already a price discount on some SQ fares to Europe ex WSI but still probably not great enough to entice peeps from the East/Northern Beaches just yet. But once more operators start, I’m sure some will happily do it. They’ll already have their PPs in hand…

 

[offshore171]

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

Fair to an extent. But without the express rail service (or at least a provision for one), you're kinda limiting what it can ever become. A self fulfilling prophecy if you will. It doesn't seem particularly visionary.

Basically it will be limited to an airport for cargo and a few international passenger services with limited appeal to inbound tourists.


Once cities hit 5-6million+, they really need a scalable second passenger airport to share the load (eg: Seoul, NYC, London, Tokyo etc). Particularly if the first one is subject to strict curfews.


Has there been any discussion of a downtown check-in system (eg: like HK)? That would help.

 

[offshore171]

The metro will traverse a fair chunk of the Western Sydney airport catchment. Yes, it’s a shame it won’t be operating on day one, but that was the original plan.

I'm a big fan of metros, but in this case I don't think that is good enough for WSI <> CBD.

It's a heck of a long way to travel with luggage on a regular metro train full of regular commuters. They are talking 70 minutes and it will also involve at least one change of trains at St Mary's.

It will have to do I guess, but it is far removed from a dedicated express train, which is what is needed when building a new airport 70km from a major city in the 21st century