Air New Zealand opens Sydney’s new airport to int’l flights
Flight NZ165 arrived from
Auckland at 7:28 a.m. on October 26. The aircraft departed approximately 90
minutes later, completing the airport’s first international passenger flight.
Captain Andrew McGuigan,
who commanded the inaugural service, said the occasion brought excitement to
passengers and crew after months of preparation by teams across both sides of
the Tasman Sea.
The airline said the
landing marked the beginning of a new Auckland–Western Sydney service. Flights
will operate three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, through
the end of March 2027.
From April 2027, the
three weekly return services will shift to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Air New Zealand Chief
Operations Officer Kate Boyer said more than 75 teams from the airline and its
partners had contributed to preparing for the launch. Those involved included
flight crews, airport personnel, engineering, digital services, security,
baggage handling and customer operations.
Located in Luddenham,
Western Sydney International Airport is approximately 45 kilometers west of
Sydney’s central business district. The airport is designed to operate around
the clock without a night-time curfew, a policy that has drawn strong
opposition from some nearby residents.
Air New Zealand’s new route
provides an additional international gateway for travelers heading to western
Sydney, while establishing the airport’s first international passenger
connection with New Zealand.
