Singapore Airlines will launch flights to Sydney’s new $6 billion international airport on November 23, taking advantage of its curfew-free status, while other carriers could start services to the new aviation hub weeks earlier.
Despite the escalating fuel crisis caused by the Iran war, the Asian airline has committed to its inaugural flight – SQ201 – landing at Western Sydney Airport at 10.20pm on November 23, heralding the start of a daily return service between western Sydney and Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The return flight to Singapore is scheduled to depart on the same day at 11.55pm – something the airline could not do at that time from Sydney Airport due to its 11pm to 6am curfew.
Western Sydney Airport chief executive Simon Hickey said the fuel crisis had created a “dynamic situation” for airlines, but he emphasised that the aviation industry was “very resilient”.
“This is a long game, and it demonstrates [Singapore Airlines’] confidence in the airport,” he said. “Airlines … are really very, very good at managing through a crisis. We will navigate through whatever comes.”
Singapore Airlines will fly its Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the new route, seating 40 passengers in business class and 263 in economy. Tickets for the daily return services go on sale on Wednesday.
The launch of services to the new airport on the western outskirts of the city will increase Singapore Airlines’ daily flights to Sydney to five. It already operates four daily services to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.
Hickey said the launch of flights was a historic moment for the long-promised airport, which began construction in 2018.
He reiterated that the airport would be ready for passenger flights at the end of October, but declined to say whether partner airlines Qantas, Jetstar or Air New Zealand would start services ahead of Singapore Airlines.
“I’ll leave it up to airlines to announce their own schedules and their flights as they see fit,” he said. “I’ll just say there could be flights that are earlier than this.”
Singapore Airlines senior vice-president Dai Haoyu said a late-night departure from western Sydney would give passengers a seamless journey and connections to other flights via Changi Airport.
“Singapore Airlines’ services to Australia’s newest gateway at western Sydney will deliver more choice and strengthen connectivity,” he said.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King welcomed Singapore Airlines committing to the launch of flights, saying its release of tickets for the route would allow people to start planning trips.
Qantas and its budget offshoot Jetstar have committed to basing 15 domestic aircraft at the government-owned airport within a year of its opening.
Air New Zealand has previously signalled its intent to start flights from the middle of next year. The Kiwi flag carrier and Singapore Airlines have both been beneficiaries of a $16 million fund – backed by the NSW government – aimed at incentivising international airlines to fly to the new airport.
Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand were approached for comment about their latest intentions.
Virgin Australia has previously said it is “looking closely” at the opportunity in western Sydney and assessing a network and schedule that best served its customers.
Hickey said the airport would open to freighter aircraft towards the end of July, and its cargo terminal operators – Qantas and Menzies – were working on their schedules.
Sydney Airport has fired a shot across its new competitor’s bows by embarking on plans to merge the T2 and T3 terminals at Mascot into a single precinct, resulting in 12 new gates for both domestic and international aircraft.
The privately operated airport forecasts a 75 per cent increase in passengers to 72 million annually by 2045. In comparison, Western Sydney Airport expects 8.4 million passengers a year by 2030, and 19.3 million by 2045.
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Matt O’Sullivan is transport and infrastructure editor at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.