The state government is providing $8 million for the fund with Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) to match the funding, contributing another $8 million.
The new airport on the western edge of Sydney at Badgerys Creek will be able to service 10 million passengers a year as soon as it opens. However, so far there is just one international airline locked in, with Singapore Airlines committing to Western Sydney International last August, without publicising details of services.
Both Qantas and Jetstar have committed to bringing domestic services to the airport.
The Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund is being administered by the state’s tourism agency, Destination NSW.
Assistance via the fund will be offered on a case-by-case basis to airlines and could include passenger subsidies and marketing support. Funding decisions will take into account the number of services and the number of passengers each airline intends to carry over three years out of WSI.
“You only get to open a new airport once, that’s why we’re backing Western Sydney airport to land new routes and ensure this once in a generation opportunity is a runway success,” said NSW tourism minister, John Graham.
“Western Sydney airport will be a massive growth engine for the NSW visitor economy. This fund will pour jet fuel into that engine.
“The more passengers we can bring in, the more spending across Western Sydney’s incredible food precincts, the sights of the Blue Mountains and the food and wine in the Central West.
“The NSW Government is pulling every lever we can to grow the NSW visitor economy to $91 billion by 2035. This is a crucial one and there’ll be more to come.”
As the airport’s CEO, Simon Hickey, points out, time is of the essence in establishing airline commitments to the new airport.
“With tickets for our first flights set to go on sale later this year and our opening day rapidly approaching, this initial investment with the state government is very welcome news and another strong signal that Western Sydney International Airport is well and truly open for business,” said Hickey.
“WSI is built for growth, with plans in place that will eventually see it become Sydney’s biggest international airport, handling more than 80 million annual passengers, which is akin to London’s Heathrow airport today.”
Unlike Sydney’s existing airport in Mascot, Western Sydney International will have no curfew, with flights able to arrive and depart the airport 24 hours a day.
