A holidaymaker who flew into Western Sydney Airport from Auckland said he thought he had travelled to Western Australia. The airport opened on Sunday, and its first commercial flight landed that day. He told a TV interview he realised on the flight that he was not heading to Perth, but said it was not the worst thing while on holiday. Another passenger, Julie Lundmark, said she looked out of the window after landing on a Jetstar flight and had no idea where she was. There are no direct flights between Perth and the new airport.
Travellers have been confused by Sydney's new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), with some passengers landing at the wrong airport. Julie Lundmark from Sweden was surprised to discover her return flight from Melbourne landed at WSI instead of Sydney Airport. She and her friend had to find ways to get back to Sydney Airport, where their car was parked. Another passenger thought he was travelling to Perth in Western Australia but landed at WSI instead.
Passengers on the first commercial flights at Western Sydney International Airport have described the experience as seamless. Jetstar flight JQ362 left for the Gold Coast just before 11:30am on Sunday, one of three domestic services to use the runway first. Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland became the first international arrival, followed by flight NZ166 back to Auckland. Passengers praised the toll-free drive, short walk to the terminal and digital check-in. Airline and airport officials say more destinations will be added over the next year.
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Western Sydney International Airport has opened, with passenger flights starting today. Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King said the airport would increase competition in the Sydney Basin and help ease capacity limits at Kingsford Smith Airport. Airport chief executive Simon Hickey said more than 10,000 workers helped deliver the project, and that more than half came from Western Sydney. Hickey said the airport can be reached by the M12 motorway, bus routes and a free shuttle from St Mary's station. Air New Zealand flights are due to begin tomorrow.
The first passenger flight took off from Western Sydney International Airport this morning, about 20 minutes behind schedule. Jetstar flight JQ362 headed for the Gold Coast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport, which was first chosen for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek 40 years ago. Politicians from all sides attended the opening. Airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways will operate from the airport, and the first international flight to New Zealand is due tomorrow.
The first passenger flight took off from Western Sydney International Airport this morning, about 20 minutes behind schedule. Jetstar flight JQ362 headed for the Gold Coast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport, which was first chosen for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek 40 years ago. Politicians from all sides attended the opening. Airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways will operate from the airport, and the first international flight to New Zealand is due tomorrow.
Sydney drivers are paying more than $50 million a year in fines, largely for passengers' improperly worn seatbelts, new data shows. Almost 118,000 seatbelt fines were issued in the past year, totalling $53 million, and about two-thirds of those involving incorrectly worn belts were the passenger's fault. Sophia White said she received a fine and demerit points after a camera caught her passenger's arm over his seatbelt in Chatswood, and she could not transfer the demerits to him. The NRMA's Peter Khoury said fines should not fall on drivers for passengers' actions.
Rex Airlines has suspended its flights from Port Macquarie and Orange to Sydney from October 25, with no set date for resumption. The airline blamed high aviation fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict and low passenger demand, saying the routes were not commercially viable. Both destinations continue to be served by another carrier. Nationals MP Alison Penfold said she was disappointed and worried about less competition leading to higher fares, and she has written to QantasLink seeking assurance on pricing.
Passengers on a Qantas flight from Perth to Rome say bed bugs crawled over their belongings, clothing and the aircraft windows. The outbreak was detected last Friday, after travellers complained of bites to cabin crew mid-flight. Passengers say they had alerted staff to the bugs earlier, on the Sydney-to-Perth leg, before the plane continued to Rome. Qantas cancelled the return service from Rome to Perth and took the Boeing 787 Dreamliner out of service for a deep clean and fumigation. The airline apologised, saying an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats.
Qantas has cancelled a Rome to Perth service and is investigating after passengers reported itchy bites on a flight from Perth to Rome. The plane was grounded in Rome, and passengers were given accommodation and rebooked on other flights within two days. Qantas said engineers carried out a deep clean after an issue was found on a small number of economy seats. Bed bug expert Stephen Doggett said such incidents are not common but do occur, and that the insects are hard to remove from aircraft.
