'Meant to be in Perth': Passengers caught out by Sydney's new airport
Travellers mistook the new airport for Sydney Airport as Jetstar and Air New Zealand flights began, while buses and shuttles covered unfinished rail links.
- Western Sydney International Airport began passenger flights on Sunday, immediately causing confusion among travelers who mistakenly believed they had booked flights to the existing Sydney Airport or Western Australia.
- The $5.6 billion airport is located about 60km from the city center, compared with just 8km for Kingsford Smith Airport, while 'Sydney West' on boarding passes misled passengers into assuming it was a terminal at the familiar airport.
- Julie Lundmark, a traveler from Sweden, landed at WSI instead of Sydney Airport and told 702 ABC Sydney, "We have our car parked at the other airport." Another passenger mistakenly thought he was traveling to Western Australia.
- Stranded passengers face logistical challenges as the rail link remains unfinished; buses and a free shuttle operate between St Marys and the airport, though reaching Sydney Airport from WSI takes approximately two hours.
- Seven carriers have committed to operating from the facility, with flights to Singapore scheduled to begin soon and destinations including Nadi in Fiji, Ho Chi Minh City, and Doha to follow as Sydney becomes a two-airport city.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Boarding on confusion: Sydney’s second airport blows some passengers off course
Sydney’s new multibillion-dollar airport has already confused some travellers, with passengers mistaking the new facility for the Australian city’s existing airport and even booking flights to the wrong side of the country. Western Sydney International Airport, which opened at the weekend after decades of planning, is about 60km (37 miles) from the city centre, compared with just 8km for the existing Kingsford Smith Airport. The new airport oper…
The train's not done yet.
A new airport should relieve Sydney. First of all, it creates confusion at the start: some passengers confuse it with the old airport – and even with Perth on the west coast.
A new airport is supposed to relieve Sydney, but at the start it creates a lot of confusion.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
