Sydney’s New International Airport to Open in 2026
- Business Airlines Civil Aviation World
Global Business Magazine- 5 minutes read
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) on Tuesday said that it has secured its first international airline, with Singapore Airlines (SIA), confirming the premium carrier’s intention to operate at Sydney’s new 24-hour airport.
This establishes a new strategic partnership between WSI and the Skytrax certified 5-Star Airline, as commercial discussions about the airline’s future operations at Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than 50 years, continue.
Today’s agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the parties in 2023, which set the scope to explore the airport’s future functionality, customer experience, sustainability, operational efficiency, and mutual commercial opportunities. WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and air cargo services in late 2026.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said that at the heart of this arrangement – the first with an international airline for WSI – was recognition of the airport’s unique scheduling opportunities that airlines, like SIA, will be able to harness into the future.
“This inaugural international airline arrangement is a fantastic milestone for WSIA and reflects the positive response we have had from airlines, especially in regard to the unprecedented opportunities our 24-hour capability unlocks,” he said.
According to Hickey, WSIA’s late-night departure capacity, for instance, could allow Singapore Airlines’ business travellers to finish a full day’s work in Sydney, take an overnight flight and arrive in Singapore before their first morning meeting the very next day.
Late-night departures could also allow passengers to transit more swiftly from Singapore through their award-winning Changi Airport hub to connect to one of the 125 destinations served by the Singapore Airlines Group.
Hickey said that WSIA was focused on delivering a smooth and simple experience for its customers, underpinned by the latest technology, which was another major drawcard for Singapore Airlines.
“Our combined international and domestic terminal will give Singapore Airlines customers a seamless transfer experience, while our state-of-the-art baggage system and efficient design, including five-minute taxi times on the tarmac, means passengers will be able to get on their flight faster and relax and enjoy the award-winning service on board,” he said.
Based in the state’s cultural heartland of Western Sydney that’s home to more than 150 different ancestries, this new commercial arrangement will also unlock new opportunities for the region’s residents who often visit family or friends overseas.
Over 80% Works Completed
With the airport build now more than 80% progressed, including the recent completion of its terminal roof, and the step forward to advance international airline negotiations, these diverse communities can really get a sense of their future airport, and the experience they will have flying from here in late 2026.
Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President South West Pacific, Louis Arul said that this agreement reflects SIA’s commitment to enhancing network connectivity for travellers to and from Sydney, and providing additional services for Australia, which is a major market for the Singapore Airlines Group.
This is a unique opportunity to work with a greenfield airport to set a new base line for customer experience throughout an airport ecosystem. SIA is working closely with WSI to ensure that its customers will continue to enjoy the comprehensive, end-to-end, world-class experience that is synonymous with Singapore Airlines, Arul averred.
