“Nau mai, haere mai ki tō tātou whānau” Welcome to our New Zealand Family
Sydneysiders can now book flights to Auckland from the city’s newest aviation hub, with tickets going on sale in a landmark moment for Western Sydney International.
Western Sydney’s long-awaited international gateway has taken a giant leap forward, with Air New Zealand launching ticket sales for its pioneering Auckland service – making it the first international airline to commit to the Nancy-Bird Walton Airport.
The move signals a new era for Sydney’s aviation landscape, offering travellers in the city’s west a direct route across the Tasman without the trek to Kingsford Smith.
From 26 October, Air New Zealand will operate three return services weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, connecting Western Sydney International (WSI) with Auckland International Airport. The morning flights are timed to maximise connectivity, departing Auckland at 6.05am and touching down at WSI by 7.50am, with return services leaving at 9am.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey didn’t hide his enthusiasm about securing the airline as a foundation international partner.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have Air New Zealand come on board,” Hickey said yesterday. “They’ve significantly advanced their flight schedule to get these trans-Tasman services up and running in October, and that speaks volumes about their confidence in what we’re building here.”
The route opens up access to more than 2.5 million people in Western Sydney’s catchment area, including a substantial New Zealand expat community who’ve long called the region home.
Air New Zealand’s general manager for short haul and domestic operations, Lucy Hall, said the new service strengthens the airline’s trans-Tasman network while giving customers genuine choice.
“Flying directly into Western Sydney means we’re serving a massive population that’s previously had to travel across the city to catch international flights,” Hall explained. “Combined with our existing Kingsford Smith services, travellers now have real flexibility in how they get between New Zealand and Sydney.”
The announcement drew praise from Canberra, with Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King describing it as a boost to Australia-New Zealand relations.
“Western Sydney will be connected to our closest neighbours from October, and these new flights will deepen the already strong ties between our two nations,” King said, while acknowledging the aviation sector’s recent headwinds. “We’re confident demand for trans-Tasman travel will continue to grow well into the future.”
NSW Jobs and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper highlighted the economic windfall the route represents for the state’s visitor economy.
“This is another massive milestone for Western Sydney International and a clear sign of the opportunities this airport will unlock,” Kamper said. “It makes it easier for Kiwi visitors to experience everything NSW has to offer, while giving locals more options when they travel.”
The service has received backing through the $16 million Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, a joint initiative between the NSW Government and WSI. The fund is projected to attract more than 162,000 international visitors to NSW and inject an estimated $530 million into the visitor economy – part of the state’s ambitious target to reach $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure by 2035.
Air New Zealand will deploy its internationally configured A321 aircraft with 214 economy seats, or A320 aircraft with 165 economy seats, on the route.
Tickets went on sale from 6am yesterday, with the first passengers set to board in just over six months’ time.
For Western Sydney, it’s a moment that’s been years in the making – and a signal that the region’s newest airport is ready to take its place on the global stage.
