Air New Zealand checks in as first international flight into Western Sydney

Air New Zealand has made history as the first international passenger airline to touch down at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), helping open Australia’s newest airport and a major new gateway between New Zealand and one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions. Flight NZ165 from Auckland touched down at 7.28 a.m. Monday and later departed Western Sydney just after 9.00 a.m., marking the culmination of years of planning and the start of Air New Zealand’s new three-times-weekly service between Auckland and Western Sydney. Air New Zealand Chief Operations Officer Kate Boyer says the milestone is a proud moment for the airline, which has a long history of pushing boundaries and making aviation history. “Air New Zealand has always had a pioneering spirit. From our early days connecting Australia and New Zealand to the innovations we’ve introduced in the skies over the decades, we’ve never been afraid to be first. It’s not every day you get to be part of opening a brand-new international airport, let alone be the first international passenger airline to land there. This is a pretty extraordinary moment for Air New Zealand and our customers. The connection between Australia and New Zealand is about so much more than flights. It’s families and friends who live on opposite sides of the Tasman, businesses that rely on strong connections between our countries, and people travelling to explore somewhere new. “Western Sydney is home to more than 2.5 million people and it’s a further gateway for Australian visitors to discover everything our country has to offer; for Kiwi businesses, it creates another connection into an important and growing Australian market. And for Air New Zealand, it’s an opportunity to establish ourselves early in a region with significant potential for future growth,” says Boyer. “More than 75 different teams across Air New Zealand and many partners have played a part in getting ready for today. From pilots and airport teams to engineering, digital, security, baggage, customer experience and operations, almost every part of the airline has been involved. With a new airport, you’re starting with a blank sheet of paper. Every part of the operation and customer journey needs to be worked through and tested. We’ve carried out digital and on-site trials, tested our systems and equipment, trained our people and walked through the customer journey from end to end. Seeing customers step off the aircraft this morning made all that work worthwhile.” WSI CEO Simon Hickey extended a warm kia ora to Air New Zealand’s inaugural international passengers, welcoming them from across the Tasman in a history making journey that kicked off Western Sydney’s connectivity with the world. “Today is a fitting celebration of our two nation’s deep cultural and historical bonds, with the first international flight from our vibrant and diverse Western Sydney region to New Zealand’s largest city and commercial hub for tourism and trade,” he said. “Through our 24-hour operations, Western Sydney International Airport gives airlines greater flexibility to connect into global hubs and travellers more choice in how they reach the world, offering a new unprecedented era of connectivity for people across Greater Sydney. “We’re bringing more aviation capacity and competition to the doorstep of one of Australia’s fastest-growing markets, giving international airlines room to grow and travellers from Western Sydney and beyond a modern, world-class, digitally enabled airport experience.” Finnair lands first flight in Melbourne Melbourne Airport has welcomed Finnair’s first flight to Australia using its own aircraft and airline code, with AY145 touching down from Helsinki via Bangkok this morning. The flag carrier of Finland and the official airline of Santa Claus will now fly daily from Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway to Thailand, Finland and beyond to Europe using an Airbus A350. Finnair’s arrival makes Melbourne the only Australian city to be served by an airline from the European Union with the new service worth an estimated $190 million a year to the Victorian economy. Passengers can choose from three classes of travel including Premium Economy and Finnair’s unique, award-winning AirLounge business class seat, which features a fixed contoured design and converts into a spacious flat bed. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said Finnair would offer Australian travellers and local exporters a new choice to Thailand and Europe. “Finnair is one of the world’s oldest and most well-respected airlines, so we are thrilled to welcome them to the Melbourne Airport family,” she said. “Finnair has today joined a long list of the world’s top airlines in making Melbourne its Australian gateway, and we’re proud to see the blue and white tail on our tarmac. Thanks to fifth-freedom rights, passengers can book with Finnair to access Bangkok or a well-earned break on Thailand’s renowned beaches. Alternatively, people can make the most of this new service to see Finland’s stunning northern lights or visit Europe’s cultural capitals. The airline’s award-winning Helsinki hub is recognised as one of Europe’s most convenient transit points, with onward connections available to around 90 destinations on the continent. As demand for travel continues to grow and more airlines look to serve Melbourne, we’re investing in the infrastructure we need to support them, including Melbourne Airport’s third runway and our $4.5 billion international terminal expansion.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]