History will be made on Sunday as Western Sydney Airport officially begins opened its doors to passengers for the first time, becoming the first new international airport to open in five decades.
Excited travellers and spectators began arriving at the brand new terminal early, buzzing with anticipation ahead of the airport’s inaugural flight taking off at 11am.
Jetstar flight JQ362 to the Gold Coast has the honour of being the first commercial flight to take off from Western Sydney International airport.
Sydney’s second airport starts operations of decades of debate
It’s taken decades for Sydney’s second airport to be built, but WSI-Nancy-Bird Walton airport finally begins operations.
“In my maiden speech to parliament 30 years ago, I made the case for an airport in Western Sydney,” Mr Albanese told the Sunday Telegraph.
“I’m so pleased that it is finally being delivered under my government.”
The airport, which also honours Australian aviation pioneer Nancy-Bird Walton, will be officially opened by a slew of politicians and officials from 10am, before passengers board the Jetstar flight.
Located 44km west of the Sydney CBD, the new airport is set to transform travel for residents in Sydney’s booming western suburbs.
Local St Marys resident Chris Grant told NewsWire he wanted to be apart of history and have something he could tell his grandkids about.
“Its just a silly old piece of paper with a boarding pass but it means a lot,” Mr Grant said.
“It’s exciting, we’ve been waiting for this for most of my life, I’ve watched it come out of the ground and to be on the first flight is something I wanted to do”
When asked about getting on the first flight, Mr Grant said he was “pretty fast” to get on board.
“In fact I’m on the Singapore Airlines and then I heard air New Zealand was going to fly before it. so I got on that,” he said.
“Then the Jetstar one came up and I thought I better get on that”
Western Sydney Airport will face challenges, expert
Unlike Sydney’s current airport Kingsford Smith, Western Sydney International will operate around the clock, 24 hours a day.
This means none of the restrictions that limit flights at Kingsford Smith between 11pm and 6am, which experts predict will be a major drawing card for the new airport.
Swinburne University aviation expert Salim Hijazeen called Sunday a “very significant moment” in Australian aviation, but points out the new airport will come with challenges.
“I think this could be an important factor in attracting more airlines to Western Sydney International especially those looking to operate services outside the existing airport’s operating hours,” he said.
But he said there would be challenges of creating new routes, building passenger demand which will determine what services are commercially viable.
“Initially, there will be fewer airlines, flight frequencies and destinations available compared with the existing airport, although I expect this to change progressively as demand grows and more airlines commence operations.”
More to come