Shorter lines, faster bags: How Western Sydney Airport will change the way you fly
Australia’s new airport is just hours away from welcoming airline passengers after 80 years of planning.
Aussie airline Jetstar will make history as the first commercial passenger flight to take off from the airport when JQ362 departs at 11am tomorrow for the Gold Coast.
Australia’s new airport, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton), is just hours away from welcoming passengers after 80 years of planning. WSI
And the nation’s first new airport in 50 years aims to get rid of many of the headaches associated with travelling.
New technology means Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) or WIS as it will be known offers a “significant step forward in how Australians will experience air travel.”
That’s according to Dr Woojin Choi is Resident Engineering Manager for Western Sydney Airport at Bechtel Australia.
Betchell supported the airport’s technology planning, procurement and delivery.
Security, which often causes frustrations and long waits is the first point where passengers will see a difference.
He reckons it’ll be faster.
New technology means Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) or WIS as it will be known, between Penrith and Campbelltown will remove many of the headaches which come with flying. WSI
“Nobody particularly enjoys airport security, especially when you’re running late,” he told nine.com.au.
“But the airport’s next-generation biosecurity and 3D Computed Tomography (CT) screening technologies are designed to strengthen security while helping passengers move through screening quickly.”
You’re likely to get your bags faster once you arrive back at the airport too.
“We’ve all stood at the baggage carousel watching everyone else’s suitcase go past, wondering where on earth ours has got to,” he said.
“The airport’s advanced baggage system incorporates Early Bag Storage, high-speed automated sorting and more ergonomic facilities for ground staff, making it easier for individuals to collect their belongings,” he said.
“Early Bag Storage also means luggage can be securely stored and automatically retrieved closer to departure, while automated sorting helps keep bags moving efficiently, particularly during busy periods.
“It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes tech that makes grabbing your luggage off the carousel just that bit smoother.”
There’s also a lot of happening behind-the-scenes passengers won’t even know about, via what is called Smart Airport Systems Integration.
Western Sydney International also has a check-in design most passengers will never have seen before.
Security gates at the new Western Sydney International Airport. Supplied
There’s no dedicated desks for each airline or even a split between domestic and international flights.
It’s also the same at departure gates and in security and baggage reclaim, with all shared.
“This enables facilities to be shared more effectively across airlines and services, helping reduce queues, improve utilisation and respond to changing passenger demand throughout the day,” Woojin said.
And for the plane nerds, the new airport has technology which makes getting on and off planes faster for passengers.
“Automated aerobridge positioning also helps connect the gate to the aircraft more efficiently, supporting faster passenger disembarkation and reducing avoidable delays at the stand,” he said.
Unlike Sydney Airport, WSI will operate 24 hours a day, with no curfew, allowing flights to arrive and depart at any time.
Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Vietjet Air, Fiji Airways, Qatar Airways, Jetstar and Qantas are flying, or plan to, from the airport.
On Monday October 26, Air New Zealand will fly the first international flight to Auckland.
Passengers have been trialling the airport ahead of the opening.
Cargo flights already started in July.
WSI will be capable of catering for up to 10 million passengers a year and eventually aims to become Australia’s primary airport with capacity to handle 82 million annual passengers.
