Go West: Fiji Airways signs up for new airport

Tourism to and from Fiji is about to get a major boost.

Fiji Airways today announced a major expansion of its Australian network with the launch of new direct flights between Nadi, Fiji, and the new 24-hour Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).

Fares are now on sale now ahead of the inaugural service on Friday, March 19 next year.

The announcement comes as Fiji has never been more popular with Australian travellers, the airline said in a media release.

Fiji has just broken the one million visitor mark for a 12-month period for the first time in its history, with the destination also posting its highest-ever monthly arrivals in July.

Scheduled to operate three times per week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays using modern Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the new service will give Fijians an additional direct connection between the two nations, driving more tourism to Fiji.

Fiji Airways is the first international carrier to announce services between Fiji and Western Sydney International, adding more than 53,000 seats annually between the two destinations.

The new Nadi-Western Sydney route is a natural next step for Fiji Airways, said Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah,

“It is one of the fastest-growing regions in New South Wales, and a direct route there means easier, more affordable access for Australians looking to holiday in Fiji - which means more visitors, more jobs and more opportunities for our tourism industry," Scurrah said.

"It's also home to one of the largest Fijian communities outside Fiji, so this route is about more than just tourism - it's about making it easier for our people to stay connected to family and friends, and for Fiji to keep growing as a destination the world wants to visit.”

The new route will complement Fiji Airways existing double-daily services between Nadi and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey says: “We’re excited to have Fiji Airways join Western Sydney International as the countdown continues to welcome our inaugural passengers in less than 60 days’ time.

"Western Sydney is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing regions in the nation, which includes more than 70% of our global city’s Fijian population. We’re delighted to be delivering a new, seamless service for them to connect with family and friends, while also giving tourists more choice and flexibility to visit Fiji and explore everything the warm, welcoming leisure destination has to offer.”

Jetstar flies in to test out new airport

A Jetstar A320 touched down at the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport today, eight weeks out from the first commercial passenger flight on Sunday, October 25.

Landing at 9:30am from Melbourne, the trial flight was part of the lead-up to the official opening of the new facility. 

Jetstar will become the first airline to fly passengers from Western Sydney when flight JQ362 takes off for the Gold Coast at 11am on October 25. 

The airline ran the trial flight alongside the WSI team, with the end-to-end customer experience through the airport also being practiced to ensure a smooth operation from day one of the airport’s opening.

Jetstar chief pilot Tyrone Simes said flying the first service into a brand‑new airport was a  once‑in‑a‑career moment.

“Australia hasn’t opened a major new airport like this in more than 50 years, so this morning was a genuinely exciting milestone for me and the team," Simes said.

“We’re doing this eight weeks out from the first flight deliberately. It gives us time to take what we learned today and build it into our procedures and crew briefings, ensuring everything is fully tested and refined well ahead of launch.

“Today's flight was about getting to know the airport before we carry customers. Crew flew the arrival and departure exactly as they will in October, then worked through the ground side of the operation: the taxi route to the gate, lining up on the aerobridge, and the turnaround that gets the aircraft back out again.

“By the time we carry our first customers from Western Sydney, every element of this operation will be familiar to us - and we can’t wait to share that first flight with them.”

WSI Chief Operating Officer Matt Duffy said the airport’s operational preparation was progressing well, with trial activities on track in the final weeks leading up to the launch of passenger flights.

“Today’s trial flight represents an important part of our ongoing Operational Readiness Program, which is all about preparing our staff, systems and processes to be as match-fit as possible when the airport opens for passengers next month,” he said.

“We have utilised the unique opportunity we have as Australia’s first major greenfield domestic, international and cargo airport in more than 50 years to deliver a highly efficient, sustainable and future-proofed airport. It’s exciting to see that coming to life with these trials in a controlled operating environment before the first commercial flights take to the skies from WSI.”

From opening day, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between Western Sydney and Melbourne, daily flights to the Gold Coast - up from four a week, following strong demand - and three flights a week to Brisbane.

All services will be flown by Airbus A320 aircraft. 

Image: A dull one supplied by Jetstar

Dubai unveils plans for the world's biggest airport

Dubai has unveiled plans for what will be the world's largest airport.

Once complete, Al Makhtoum International Airport will be capable of handling 260 million passengers per year. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and ruler of Dubai said.

It will be five times the size of the current Dubai International Airport, which is already ranked top globally for international passenger traffic, travel news portal Skift reported.

Dubai officials said airport operations would be switched from the current Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport “within the next 10 years.”

“Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub, and its new global centre,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The rulers has approved the designs for the new terminals and given the go ahead for the commencement of construction for the project. It is expected to cost $US35 billion.

The airport will be able to accommodate 400 aircraft gates and feature five parallel runways, according to an official statement.

“DXB (Dubai International Airport) will continue to serve as the primary hub, meeting the needs of 100 million plus guests over the next few years as phase two of DWC (Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport) takes shape," Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement.

"We will be actively collaborating with our airline customers, our strategic partners, the Dubai Government, and our stakeholders to bring this visionary project to fruition.

“There isn’t really the space to be able to add additional runways or terminals at DXB so all eyes are on the potential future of another airport development at DWC.”

Dubai has also set an ambitious target of 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031.

“The new airport… will prepare the ground for the next 40 years of anticipated growth in Dubai’s aviation sector. It will respond to the Hub Airline ambitious plans in terms of fleet acquisition and passenger growth,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.