Western Sydney International now has its first international passengers. Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland touched down at the new airport at 7:28 a.m. on October 26, according to Air New Zealand's announcement. The return flight left for Auckland just after 9 a.m.
Air New Zealand says that makes it the first international passenger airline to land at WSI, which opened to domestic flights a day earlier. Sydney now has two international airports, and travelers in the city's west have a nonstop to New Zealand without crossing town to Kingsford Smith.
The schedule
Air New Zealand will run three return flights a week between Auckland and Western Sydney, the airline says. The days change in the new year:
- Until the end of March 2027: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
- From April 2027: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
If you are booking a trip that spans the switch, check the days carefully. A Friday return in April will not exist.
The release does not name the aircraft or the cabins on the route. Before launch, Air New Zealand's own Western Sydney booking page listed A320 and A321 jets with economy seats only, as we reported in our WSI opening guide. Premium economy and business class stay on Air New Zealand's flights from Kingsford Smith.
What the airline and airport say
Kate Boyer, Air New Zealand's chief operations officer, called the first flight "a pretty extraordinary moment" for the airline and its customers. WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said the route brings "more aviation capacity and competition" to one of Australia's fastest-growing regions. The captain on the day, Andrew McGuigan, said pilots rarely get to help open a major new international airport.
Those are big words for three flights a week. But a new nonstop counts for a lot on the western side of Sydney, where getting to Kingsford Smith can mean a long drive across the city. The rail link to WSI is not open yet, so plan on a car, bus or rideshare for now.
The lounge question at WSI
This is the gap lounge travelers should know about. Air New Zealand's release says nothing about lounge access at Western Sydney. Before launch, its route page said lounge details were still to be confirmed.
WSI's first lounge, The Rayleigh, is due to open in November. It will be run by dnata, with showers, an open kitchen and views toward the Blue Mountains. So far, WSI has confirmed access only for eligible Singapore Airlines customers, whose daily flight to Singapore starts on November 23. We covered the details in our story on The Rayleigh.
That leaves Air New Zealand's first month of WSI flights with no lounge at all. Even after The Rayleigh opens, neither the airline nor the airport has said whether Air New Zealand passengers, or its Gold and Star Alliance Gold members, will get in. Until they do, assume you will wait at the gate.
Where to wait in Auckland
The return trip is a different story. In Auckland, Air New Zealand's flagship International Lounge is one of the best-rated lounges in our directory. It has ten showers and a full bar, and it scores 4.8 with our users.
Access follows the Air New Zealand lounge rules and Star Alliance lounge access. Economy tickets alone do not get you in. Status holders and lounge members can use it when flying, under the airline's usual rules.
Who should book it
If you live near Penrith, Liverpool or the Blue Mountains, this flight could save you real time on a trip to Auckland, especially in economy. If you want a lounge, a premium cabin or a daily choice of flights, Kingsford Smith is still the better fit for now. See our Sydney Airport page for the lounges there, and our Air New Zealand airline page for its fleet and network.
Our take
A first international flight is a milestone, and WSI has its moment. For lounge-minded travelers, though, the airport is still a work in progress. We'll update our WSI coverage when Air New Zealand or the airport says who can use The Rayleigh.
