Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[Saab34]

I’m not sure Alliance will operate these? They have just made a whole bunch of pilots redundant, and I’m not sure if they even have a Sydney base currently. The contract with QF ends in 18 months, seems unlikely they will open a Sydney base.

A220 might be better suited?

 

[dajop]

TBH I think more likely domestically to see late night arrivals than late night departures if MEL is a guide.

 

[HS-TQE]

I’m not sure Alliance will operate these? They have just made a whole bunch of pilots redundant, and I’m not sure if they even have a Sydney base currently. The contract with QF ends in 18 months, seems unlikely they will open a Sydney base.

A220 might be better suited?

The initial plan was to establish a WSI base with the Alliance E190s, which I'll assume will go as planned. However, if the Alliance situation with the QF wetleases does occur, QF does have NJS A220s as an alternative Plan B, and I don't see them using Network, so I'd suspect mainline 737s be Plan C.

 

[Harrison_133]

I’m not sure Alliance will operate these? They have just made a whole bunch of pilots redundant, and I’m not sure if they even have a Sydney base currently. The contract with QF ends in 18 months, seems unlikely they will open a Sydney base.

A220 might be better suited?

There were murmurs Alliance would open a 'Sydney basin' base, but given the situation they've got themselves in, it remains to be seen whether that ever eventuates.

 

[Saab34]

There were murmurs Alliance would open a 'Sydney basin' base, but given the situation they've got themselves in, it remains to be seen whether that ever eventuates.

No doubt Alliance would want trade offs in any negotiations to reduce the burden on the overall commercial deal already in place, whatever deal they negotiate you would expect it would somewhat need to benefit Alliance.

Depends how much leverage they have these days, Qantas might be in the position now to say no thanks to a deal and run with the A220s, a luxury they didn’t have 5 years ago.

It’s obviously complex as NJS are in stalled pilot negotiations at the moment. We might see nothing based there initially just operated to and from.

 

[Superbird]

I think domestic flight announcements for WSI will be delayed given the fuel crisis. Qantas just announced they are cutting 5% of flights

 

[HS-TQE]

I think domestic flight announcements for WSI will be delayed given the fuel crisis. Qantas just announced they are cutting 5% of flights

I'd suspect the build up of the QF Group hub (JQ and QFLink) at WSI may slowed down in response to the on-going fuel situation but the opening day may go ahead as planned. The only destinations being MEL and BNE on both JQ and QFLink.

I'd suspect VA is more likely to stay out of WSI for the short term until the start of NS27 at the earliest, mid 2027 at the latest. Despite the WSI and NSW Government subsidies on offer, VA elected to stay out.

I'm guessing VA's timing for their own WSI launch may be in line with the WSI Metro line opening in 2027 as WSI is likely to be just a station for VA, with flights timed for connections in BNE and MEL.

 

[Saab34]

Without needing to open a crew base they could initially just run with twice daily in and out from other bases. Would be good for ground ops to get familiar with some early token flights.

Virgin could do the same, fairly low risk just running a flight in and out, however I’d imagine operating into WSI is part of a larger agreement/package with each major airlines and the airport operator, who obviously wants some scale, and not a couple of random flights.

 

[SYD]

I'd suspect the build up of the QF Group hub (JQ and QFLink) at WSI may slowed down in response to the on-going fuel situation but the opening day may go ahead as planned. The only destinations being MEL and BNE on both JQ and QFLink.

I'd suspect VA is more likely to stay out of WSI for the short term until the start of NS27 at the earliest, mid 2027 at the latest. Despite the WSI and NSW Government subsidies on offer, VA elected to stay out.

QF seem to be rigging their post Easter/DST 2027 schedule at the moment (nothing has gone on Sale (QFd/QFi AFAICS) beyond 27 Mar 2027, even though the 353d booking window is now out to 2 Apr 2027. Perhaps when that's bedded down, we might see/hear what's happening at WSI?

 

[justinbrett]

QF seem to be rigging their post Easter/DST 2027 schedule at the moment (nothing has gone on Sale (QFd/QFi AFAICS) beyond 27 Mar 2027, even though the 353d booking window is now out to 2 Apr 2027. Perhaps when that's bedded down, we might see/hear what's happening at WSI?

That’s the start date of the NS schedule.

Also this schedule should have the new sunrise flights - so a lot to work out.

 

[SYD]

That’s the start date of the NS schedule.

Also this schedule should have the new sunrise flights - so a lot to work out.

Either way, all flights post 27 Mar 2027 are MIA....somethings going on.

 

[justinbrett]

Either way, all flights post 27 Mar 2027 are MIA....somethings going on.

Like I said, new schedule, lots of unknowns = not a surprise.

Probably the team that usually is finishing the new schedule has been busy designing the route changes due to the ME crisis, and now the domestic cuts.

 

[Catweazle]

So, we don't yet know the first date of domestic passenger departures / arrivals?

 

[clifford]

So, we don't yet know the first date of domestic passenger departures / arrivals?

And really, how many people actually care? WSI is still a huge white elephant (to be generous).

 

[moa999]

Nope.

Reportedly Airopearl has been contracted to perform commissioning work from this Sat 18 Apr to 30 Apr.

VH-FIY flew into Bankstown today

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

So if someone flew that one particular AirNZ AKL > WSI, whose responsibility would it be to transfer them onto SYD for a QFd flight to say, ABX?

 

[HS-TQE]

So if someone flew that one particular AirNZ AKL > WSI, whose responsibility would it be to transfer them on a din flight to say, ABX?

If there are no connections, then they would be booked via SYD instead.

AKL-WSI is a O&D route on the WSI end.

 

[elanshin]

So if someone flew that one particular AirNZ AKL > WSI, whose responsibility would it be to transfer them onto SYD for a QFd flight to say, ABX?

The passengers own responsibility? Its like landing at NRT with a HND flight. You'd need to make your own way across the city.

 

[clifford]

You'd need to make your own way across the city.

No mean feat, at an affordable price..

 

[LionKing]

I know many people think I am going to be crazy, however I am starting to think whether WSI will be popular with residents from the Hills, Hornsby Shire and also Central Coast as a replacement airport than SYD.

Going from Central Coast to SYD requires using the M2 and Sydney Harbour Bridge, which gets very crowded during morning and evening peak, whereas M7 would have lighter traffic, which means those from these areas to WSI could end up a faster ride than travelling to SYD.

In particular there is going to be absolutely no traffic lights between Pacific Motorway and WSI, whereas even using M2 to SYD, you still have coughberland Highway Traffic Light to stop in midday if not the series of lights from Chatswood to Hornsby.

Perhaps bus companies should consider having a bus service from Hornsby, Gosford, The Entranace and Newcastle Interchange to WSI.