Western Sydney Airport (WSI) Discussion

[Harrison_133]

Yesterday seems to be the first post-11pm passenger flight departure from WSI - a 4-hour delay on JQ375. Presumably something happened as it had a 3-hour stop at the airport.

It returned to the gate with a technical issue.

 

[nancypants]

I find it shocking that this nondescript bland architecture is celebrated.
Architecturally, the best airport in the world is MAD.

Definitely not the most exciting architecturally but compared to just about anything else in Australia it’s certainly better. From a low bar

Obviously I’ll nominate pulkovo-1 as the most architecturally impressive, followed closely by the TWA building at JFK

 

[elanshin]

Only for our American friends....

Haha some of the Japanese thought we got off the plane and got into kangaroo pouches to bounce our way to the CBD.

 

[elanshin]

Definitely not the most exciting architecturally but compared to just about anything else in Australia it’s certainly better. From a low bar

Obviously I’ll nominate pulkovo-1 as the most architecturally impressive, followed closely by the TWA building at JFK

I feel as though there might be some subtle tricks they're using here which would need me to take an Int'l arrival to test out (with sunlight).

The whole arrivals being at the upper floor instead of the dungeon like most airports, the tall open space that both arrival and departures can see but still have full sterile separation is part of it.

And i guess overall the federal government probably didn't want to build a vanity project, a visually ok but mostly functionally nice airport. Vanity costs more money.

 

[RooFlyer]

I find it shocking that this nondescript bland architecture is celebrated.

Probably just comparing to anything else in Australia. But if you want wavy roofs, try Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and its falcon ...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Probably just comparing to anything else in Australia. But if you want wavy roofs, try Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and its falcon ...

View attachment 528995

I’ve transited through there. From the beside it was huge and empty. Nice from the outside though!

 

[nancypants]

Probably just comparing to anything else in Australia. But if you want wavy roofs, try Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and its falcon ...

View attachment 528995

Oh yeah how could I forget!!

 

[dmgale]

I am impressed and happy that Canberra has a bus service to WSI. OK only 2 services a day at the moment via Flixbus but its a start and only $30 each way..

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Probably just comparing to anything else in Australia. But if you want wavy roofs, try Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and its falcon ...

View attachment 528995

Also my affection for MAD (specifically T4) isn't because of the wavy roof.

It's because of many factors, including:
(1) the use of bamboo slats in the ceiling to give warmth and texture to the vast interior;
(2) the use of uplighting which highlights the warmth of the bamboo ceiling and spreads it throughout the terminal;
(3) the massive sunlights which bring daylight inside;
(4) the use of lightwells to distribute the sunlight throughout the building, even on lower floors;
(5) the subtle use of a rainbow of colour on the supporting structures to help PAX navigate the terminal; and
(6) the visibility of this rainbow effect from outside, even from the windows of aircraft as you taxi to the gate, which is very familiar and welcoming.

These have been recognised by various awards.
They stand in contrast to the square block steel and glass structure that is WSI: Sydney basin limestone panels notwithstanding.

 

[Bad Seed]

Probably just comparing to anything else in Australia. But if you want wavy roofs, try Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and its falcon ...

View attachment 528995

I was here recently, inside like every other airport in the world (luckily our guide was able to convince the check in agent that no we didn't need a visa to get on a flight!) but from the outside, what an amazing building - and then there's the dental headquarters shaped like a tooth...and the library shaped liked a book....

 

[RooFlyer]

and then there's the dental headquarters shaped like a tooth..

The President trained as a dentist ...

 

[Shpitzo]

Or technically Western Sydney International Nancy-Bird Walton Airport.

IATA has issued a provisional code of WSI.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1631166427259617280

Previously SWZ had been though of as likely and even appeared on Google maps for a while.

Just hope the US baggage handlers don't confuse it for MSY (New Orleans)

For anyone planning around WSI once flights start, no curfew is the big win for late departures to Asia. Worth checking whether a Sydney search includes WSI, IIRC most sites will add it to the SYD city code. FWIW Skyscanner usually lets you pick the exact airport so you can compare WSI and SYD fares side by side. Factor in the ground trip too, from the eastern suburbs it’s a long ride

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Today is the day for my trip to WSI, we have a 5 minute delay out of Melbourne. Interestingly we are departing from gate 19 which is the main terminal pier rather than the JQ shed extension.




Means it's pretty close to the Rex lounge where I'm relaxing before my flight courtesy of my Revolut membership






Boarding gate is packed, the flight is oversold today. We are in 16 year old VH-VGU which is parked right next to the Finnair A350, a recent addition to Melbourne.



The 5 minute delay is now 20 due to late arrival of this same aircraft from WSI.



Plenty of room in exit row 13A and actually 13B no showed so I'm in euro business basically, with extra leg room. More pics to follow after arrival.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Approach was directly over the Blue Mountains. Stunning views actually but photography ruined with sun glare and a dirty window making focus a problem.



Barely saw a house we flew over other than those ones.









Airport looks great. I like the design and colours. It feels right for the destination. Looking forward to watching the place evolve over the years. Everything ran really smoothly. I've wandered out the front and now on the public bus towards Liverpool. Beautiful sunny warm day.

 

[nancypants]

This may or may not be of interest and also may not be surprising but neither of my WSI flights have credited (I think I had sufficient bundles etc to do so), the online claim form at present does not acknowledge the existence of WSI

 

[esseeeayeenn]

View attachment 529235

Approach was directly over the Blue Mountains. Stunning views actually but photography ruined with sun glare and a dirty window making focus a problem.

View attachment 529236

Barely saw a house we flew over other than those ones.
View attachment 529238
View attachment 529241

View attachment 529242

View attachment 529243
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Airport looks great. I like the design and colours. It feels right for the destination. Looking forward to watching the place evolve over the years. Everything ran really smoothly. I've wandered out the front and now on the public bus towards Liverpool. Beautiful sunny warm day.

from the ceilings, looks like the architect had been to MAD.

 

[elanshin]

from the ceilings, looks like the architect had been to MAD.

Pretty sure from memory it was Zaha Hadid Architects & COX Architecture who did the concept for WSI terminal. Most major reknowned architectural firms have either done some crazy stuff or looked and studied others that have done crazy stuff these days.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Also, didn't get murdered or feel like I was about to be murdered either. So that's good

 

[nancypants]

Also, didn't get murdered or feel like I was about to be murdered either. So that's good

That’s a low bar!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

That’s a low bar!

I was referring to an earlier poster in this thread who recommended we all avoid WSI due to risk of murder