The new airport is set to open in late 2026, with capacity to service 10 million passengers a year as soon as it is operational.
Air New Zealand will operate a Sydney-Auckland route out of WSI from mid-2027.
This latest milestone for Sydney’s new curfew-free airport marks a first result for the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, which launched earlier this year.
The fund is a collaboration between the New South Wales Government and the airport, with $16 million in the kitty to incentivise international airlines to commit to the new airport.
“Sydney is the top overseas city of choice for Kiwis, and this new direct connection to Western Sydney will unlock incredible opportunities for local tourism, business and jobs,” said the NSW tourism minister, Steve Kamper.
“The economics are very simple, if we want to grow our visitor economy, we need more visitors.”
The NSW Government says Western Sydney is Australia’s third largest economy.
“Western Sydney International represents an exciting step forward for aviation in Australia, and we’re delighted to be the first trans-Tasman carrier to signal our intent to operate there as we continue to grow,” said Air New Zealand’s CEO, Greg Foran.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow our network and better serve the rapidly expanding Western Sydney region. This new route reflects our commitment to make travel more convenient for our customers and support stronger connections between New Zealand and Australia.”
At this stage, Singapore Airlines is the only other international airline to have signed up to fly out of Western Sydney International.
On the domestic front, both of Qantas Group’s airlines, Qantas and Jetstar, have pledged services to Western Sydney International.
The Air New Zealand connection comes in the same week as the airport’s announcement that it has completed major construction on the terminal, following confirmation last week that the runway is complete.
