First Western Sydney Airport international flight tickets go on sale

702 ABC Sydney

Topic:Air Transport Industry

Singapore Airlines is one of four airlines to announce that they will operate out of WSI. (Reuters: Loren Elliott)

In short:

Singapore Airlines has put the first international flights from Western Sydney International Airport on sale.

Daily flights to Singapore will start on November 23 this year, a month after the new airport is due to be ready for passenger services.

The airline is one of just four that have committed to running flights in and out of the new airport.

Singapore Airlines became the first international commercial airline to sell tickets for a flight from Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) this morning.

The international carrier will commence a daily route on November 23 between Singapore's Changi Airport and the new Western Sydney airport, known as Nancy-Bird Walton Airport.

WSI is expected to be ready for passenger travel in October this year, but the late-November flight is the first to confirm ticket sales.

"Singapore Airlines was the first international airline to commit to flying into Western Sydney International, and I'm really pleased tickets are on sale so people can start planning their next flight," Transport Minister Catherine King said.

Western Sydney International Airport is due to be ready for passenger services in October this year. (Supplied)

"Daily flights will connect Western Sydney globally, starting at the new Western Sydney International Airport and connecting to every corner of the world through Changi."

Singapore Airlines said the November flights would go on sale later today at 10am in Singapore time.

The flight confirms the airport will be taking early advantage of not being subject to the 11pm–6am curfew that Sydney Airport at Mascot is under.

"It's a curfew-free airport, and so that's the opportunity," Ms King told 702 ABC Sydney.

"A lot of people, I think, do like to be able to travel, get on a plane, get to sleep, and you wake up, and you're actually at your destination the next morning."

The first Singapore Airlines flight is due to depart just before midnight and arrive in Singapore at 5am.

The returning flight will depart Singapore at 11:30am and arrive at WSI at 10:20pm.

The Singapore Airlines flight is the first to sell tickets on a service operating from WSI. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)

Singapore Airlines is one of just two international airlines to commit to using WSI when it opens later this year.

Air New Zealand announced last year it would fly to WSI from 2027, but that would be dependent on "when aircraft become available".

Australia's Qantas and Jetstar will also be operating from WSI.

In contrast, Sydney Airport has more than 50 carriers flying in and out, mostly international airlines.

The Minister said negotiations with other airlines to join in operating out of WSI were ongoing.

"Some of the Middle East airlines were looking very closely. There's been significant issues in the Middle East at the moment, so I would expect that they're fairly busy with other matters."

"We'll see ticket sales from Qantas, Jetstar, and Air New Zealand shortly."

International cargo flights will be the first to use WSI in July this year.

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