AUSTRALIA. Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), which is due to launch domestic, international and cargo flights in 2026, has secured its first international airline partner in the blue-chip form of Singapore Airlines (SIA).
The Skytrax-certified 5-Star Singapore carrier will operate at Sydney’s new 24-hour airport as part of a strategic partnership with WSI.
Commercial discussions about the airline’s future operations at Australia’s first greenfield airport in more than 50 years continue.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said recognition of the airport’s unique scheduling opportunities that airlines such as SIA will be able to harness lay at the heart of the agreement.
“This inaugural international airline arrangement is a fantastic milestone for Western Sydney International Airport and reflects the positive response we’ve had from airlines, especially in regard to the unprecedented opportunities our 24-hour capability unlocks,” he said.
“Western Sydney International Airport’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 Western Sydney International Airport is focused on delivering a smooth and simple experience for its customers, underpinned by the latest technology. This was another major drawcard for Singapore Airlines, he noted.
“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.
The airport is based in New South Wales’ cultural heartland of Western Sydney, home to more than 150 different ancestries. The partnership with SIA will unlock new opportunities for the region’s residents who often visit family or friends overseas.
“With the airport build now more than 80 per cent progressed – including the recent completion of our terminal roof – and today’s step forward to advance international airline negotiations – our diverse communities can really get a sense of their future airport, and the experience they’ll have flying from here in late 2026,” Hickey said.
Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President South West Pacific Louis Arul commented: “This agreement reflects our 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.
“We are working closely with WSI to ensure that our customers will continue to enjoy the comprehensive, end-to-end, world-class experience that is synonymous with Singapore Airlines.”
Today’s agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding 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. ✈
