WSI for Western Sydney Airport

[justinbrett]

Again, we don't know yet, their website suggests "We'll service domestic, international and freight flights 24 hours a day with airport facilities designed for both low cost and full service carriers."

That could easily be interpreted as meaning Lounges, priority lanes etc.

I didn’t say it wouldn’t have lounges, but the premium experience (if any) won’t compare to SYD.

Qantas won’t be moving long haul out there, I’ll tell you that right now for free.

Just like the premium experience at LGW doesn’t compete with LHR.

In any case last I read was the second runway and long haul international wasn’t due until the 2050s/2060s

 

[Lynda2475]

Believe it or not there is more to Sydney than those areas.

I'm aware of that (i lived in south west Sydney for part of my life), but I also remember when Campbeltown and Penrith had their own STD code i.e. were not part of the Sydney 02 area code. For me these remain the outer fringes of the greater Sydney area but they aren't anywhere the city of Sydney.

For me it will be a very sad day if the premium airlines and routes forsake SYD solely for WSI.

If you choose to live in outer western Sydney and favor WSI good for you (and anyone else). The location will never be convenient for me (i don't wish to need a car, so will always live within 10kms of the CBD) and I will always preference SYD.

 

[SeatBackForward]

WSI Concept Plan for the Longer Term:



Approx. 690,000 SqM of terminal space. T3 at SYD is 73,000 SqM

 

[justinbrett]

Im aware of that, but I also remember when Campbeltown and Penrith had their own STD code i.e. were not part of the Sydney 02 area code. For me these remain the outer fringes of the greater Sydney area but they arent anywhere the city of Sydney.

For me it will be a very sad day if the premium airlines and routes forsake SYD solely for WSI.

If you choose to live in outer western Sydney and favor WSI good for you (and anyone else). The location will never be convenient for me so I will always preference SYD.

That, and you can bet the current private owners of SYD won’t let the government owned WSI steal their business.

If the government starts using regulation to prop up WSI no doubt they’ll be asking for compensation.

 

[dajop]

Believe it or not there is more to Sydney than those areas.

I think I did the math upthread, but roughly looking at LGA's, approximately 30% of the Greater Sydney population will be closer to WSI than SYD. But as far as the 70% goes, the 30% doesn't count. When I lived in Sydney in the 90's I could not believe how parochial people were. I moved from inner city (CBD fringe) to live in a new apartment in Parramatta CBD to be closer to the office, and it was like I was moving to Perth Kalgoorlie. (On the other hand one of my colleagues lived in Westmead, her husband's family, who were from somewhere around St Mary's, considered them snobs for moving so far east )

 

[SeatBackForward]

That, and you can bet the current private owners of SYD won’t let the government owned WSI steal their business.

If the government starts using regulation to prop up WSI no doubt they’ll be asking for compensation.

"Sydney Airport Group declined the opportunity to build and operate the airport. This meant that the Australian Government had the choice to either offer the project to another private company or build and operate the airport itself." (see further quote and link on this previous post)

 

[justinbrett]

WSI Concept Plan for the Longer Term:

View attachment 318657

Approx. 690,000 SqM of terminal space. T3 at SYD is 73,000 SqM

Longer Term = Very Wishful thinking.

Every airport has a grand master plan.

Also SYD T3 must be the smallest terminal in the country (of capital cities), not sure why that’s a benchmark.

 

[Lynda2475]

Approx. 690,000 SqM of terminal space. T3 at SYD is 73,000 SqM

Not really a fare comparison - T3 is a domestic terminal for a single airline, WSI is a mega (combined DOM & INT terminal) for an unknown number of airlines.

You need to add T1 + T2 +T3 to even start a comparison.

Also a bigger terminal says nothing wrt to quality of experience.

approximately 30% of the Greater Sydney population will be closer to WSI than SYD.

So the 70% who live closer to SYD will likely continue to preference it.

 

[justinbrett]

Not really a fare comparison - T3 is a domestic terminal for a single airline, WSI is a mega (combined DOM & INT terminal) for an unknown number of airlines.

Also bigger terminal says nothing wrt to quality.



So the 70% who live closer to SYD will likely continue to preference it.

And government owned - because no company wanted it.

Future expansions will need to be funded from profits or get more government funding. It’s only funded to stage one (single runway with small terminal).

Good luck with the pic above.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Here's the Stage 1 Concept Plan.



Indicative Terminal Size for Stage 1 is between 65-90,000 SqM,

So it will be bigger than the current SYD T3 (Qantas) terminal from opening.

 

[drron]

We fly back from SIN frequently. Usually fly into BNE so catch a morning flight and we get home between 2300 - 2400.
Now we don't mind flying into SYD and see the grandkids. SQ have 2 morning flights into SYD leaving SIN at 0715 and 0925. Their next flight is an overnighter leaving SIN at 2020.
I wouldn't mind getting a 1300 -1400 flight from SIN so we don't have to wake at sparrows. Can't be done with SYD due to curfew. but to WSI it would get in some time after 2300. now if WSI has an airport hotel that would be fine by us. A night's sleep and then go to stay near our family at a reasonable time the next day.
That plane could then fly back to SIN ~ 0300 being in SIN at 0900 in time to connect with the majority of SQ flights to other countries.

 

[dajop]

So the 70% who live closer to SYD will likely continue to preference it.

Is anyone suggesting otherwise?

WSI will still have the 5th or 6th biggest catchment for Australian airports (behind SYD, MEL, BNE, PER , and around the same as ADL).

Also I'm quite sure a few will have a price point which could sway them, especially for families driving to the airport and parking. Even AFF'ers, If say Bamboo Airways sold a through fare to Europe on a fully flat seat in business for $4K vs paying $8k on a regular carrier out of SYD, I am sure a few could be swayed to make the trek to WSI instead of SYD. Or SQ did a midnight departure that had plenty of saver awards vs none out of SYD ...

 

[Flying Fox]

WSI Concept Plan for the Longer Term:

View attachment 318657

Approx. 690,000 SqM of terminal space. T3 at SYD is 73,000 SqM

Great, approx 10x more duty free shops to walk through before I get to my lounge

 

[SeatBackForward]

I think the part that WSI haven't seemed to consider is provision for a High Speed Rail connection at WSI. Having a HSR station at WSI that might serve connections North ,South even West of Sydney would be a boon to regional towns that might want access to an International airport.

Although granted there is no other concepts to work with I can understand why this has not been considered. It can just be another multi-billion dollar addition in the future.

 

[elanshin]

Well no one living near SYD now predates the airport being there, so we absolutely could remove the stupid curfew and immediately increase capacity. Planes are quieter than ever; and all those under the flight paths got free noise insulation decades ago.

I can tell you now that its noticeable volume at our warehouse (about 3km from Syd airport). I can even hear every plane spool up at night. Those in and around the flight path can definitely hear the planes.

I think the part that WSI haven't seemed to consider is provision for a High Speed Rail connection at WSI. Having a HSR station at WSI that might serve connections North ,South even West of Sydney would be a boon to regional towns that might want access to an International airport.

Although granted there is no other concepts to work with I can understand why this has not been considered. It can just be another multi-billion dollar addition in the future.

As much as HSR would be nice, I highly doubt they'd have a terminus at WSI. One of the big touted advantages of HSR is the ability to get into the city centre.

What's more likely if we play city skyline is to build an interchange at SW Sydney that the airport metro also connects to. But that's a big if and every talk of HSR derails not long after, but hey this airport also used to be a legendary myth so maybe one day HSR might happen.

 

[SeatBackForward]

but hey this airport also used to be a legendary myth so maybe one day HSR might happen.

Ha! I like that. Yeah HSR is mostly still a pipe dream. It would be good if these Infrastructure projects were driven by actual long term objectives rather than election cycle promises.

 

[kamchatsky]

All the federal government has to do is to declare WSI as regional airport for purpose of counting on flight caps, then you will see CX, QR, EK, SQ start flying there at least once a day. Then adding all those JQ, VA, plus other LCCs and you have a decent number of international flights there. QF would even fly from there for short haul international as well.

I do hope that the government will extend the West Metro all the way to WSI from Westmead, and have a check in facility at Hunter Street. However I cannot see it happening if Labor wins this month.

 

[Lynda2475]

However I cannot see it happening if Labor wins this month.

Yes they have been saying they are going to cut infrastructure projects.

 

[exmc]

Does anyone know why WSI seems to have Departures on the ground floor and Arrivals on the upper floor? Seems like Arrival passengers will have the best view of the runway.

 

[moa999]

Pretty common in newish designs - the arrivals section is mostly corridors so takes up less space, so you can have lots of double height areas at the gates.

Plus you've got to remember it's a combined domestic/ international terminal more akin to Canberra and Adelaide.