The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued Western Sydney International Airport its three-letter code in record time.
Normally, IATA releases the go-to code within 12 months of the opening of an airport, but it has provisionally issued the future Western Sydney hub with its code – WSI – three years before it’s due to open in 2026.
“In securing WSI, our new airport has joined the ranks of other airports with iconic codes such as LAX, JFK, LHR and HKG,” WSI Chair Paul O’Sullivan said.
“Bag tags, booking websites and airline apps around the world will now feature WSI, as the airport continues to act as a driving force in the region’s renaissance, now with a code that puts Western Sydney on the global stage.”
When it opens, WSI will become Sydney’s second international airport. And the future hub says IATA’s decision to recognise the gateway with its three-letter code early reflects the confidence the peak aviation body has in the facility’s progress and position within Australia’s air travel space.
“This will be an airport for all of Sydney, ultimately growing to become the city’s biggest, but we’re proud that it is home in Western Sydney,” O’Sullivan said.
“Western Sydney is truly Sydney’s cultural heartland and with WSI now confirmed as one of our most important global identifiers, our role connecting the world to Sydney via this exciting and diverse region is clear.”
Airline advocacy
Qantas and Virgin Australia were among those that asked IATA to issue Western Sydney International with an airport code earlier than usual.
“We’ve had enormous levels of interest from airlines, not only from our Australian MOU airline partners, but from airlines around the world that are excited for what new aviation capacity, 24/7 operations and a modern, digitally enabled airport means, including for Sydney’s brand as Australia’s global city,” O’Sullivan said.
“Over the next couple of years, we’ll be excited to let our future passengers across Sydney know which airlines will take them to which destinations from WSI.”
Boost to the west
The WSI boss added that the airport would drive “record investment in transport, job training and social infrastructure across the region”.
“As we build the airport, we’ve already invested around $400 million with Western Sydney businesses, which is just the beginning of WSI bringing higher quality jobs, closer to home both now and into the future,” he added.
“People’s children and their children will have access to great jobs in the west, if their interest is in engineering, cyber and other security, sustainability, aviation or many other jobs of the future the opportunity will be here in Western Sydney.”
WSI’s former CEO said the future hub would be second to none and have the capability to handle aircraft that can fly Aussies directly to London or New York City.
