Sydney’s second airport welcomes its first passengers this month. Before it appears in an executive’s booking, here’s what’s confirmed and what’s worth checking.
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is Australia’s first major greenfield international airport in more than 50 years.
Its first flight, Jetstar JQ362 to the Gold Coast, departs at 11am on Sunday 25 October.
What’s flying
Jetstar will also fly to Melbourne and Brisbane. Air New Zealand begins flights to Auckland on 26 October, three times a week, and Singapore Airlines starts daily flights to Singapore on 23 November.
More services are confirmed for next year. Vietjet will begin flying in January, and Qantas starts on 28 March with four flights a week each to Brisbane and Melbourne.
Western Sydney International chief executive Simon Hickey has said the initial services are a starting point, with availability set to grow.
Getting there
The Sydney Metro rail link to the airport is still under development and isn’t expected to be ready when the airport opens.
If you’re arranging transfers or advising guests, check the airport’s website for current transport options. And allow extra time until you know how long the trip takes from your executive’s home or office.
Open all hours
Unlike Sydney Airport, which is subject to a curfew from 11pm to 6am, Western Sydney will operate 24 hours a day, giving airlines more flexibility over when they schedule flights.
What to check before you book
With two airports in Sydney, check the airport name and code on every flight before you confirm, particularly for connections and last-minute changes.
The route list is short to start with, so make sure your executive’s destination is served before you look at Western Sydney.
If you’re organising an event, tell attendees which airport is closest to the venue and arrange transfers to match.
It’s also worth asking your travel management company how the new airport will appear in your bookings, and checking back as services grow.