Will Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport ever close down?
If Badgerys Creek Airport opens, Will the government close down the aging Kingsford Smith Airport? Or will they turn it into a London City Airport sort of thing with only a few airlines operating the airport?
Unless they think they can make a killing out of closing it for a conversion to some other kind of land - e.g. waterfront residential, or an extension of Port Botany - expect it to be retained as a sort of Haneda. Its inner-suburb location would certainly keep it relevant for domestic use.
No. Maybe downsize. The way I see it is, is like London city but on a grander scale. I feel qantas and virgin and maybe a few intl airlines may operate from both but the majority of airlines will operate both domestic and intl from Badgerys. For example: qantas would operate Melbourne to mascot and Melbourne to Badgerys. And operate Badgerys to LAX. So if you wish to connect to the lax flight or live in Western Sydney, you would fly to Badgerys and possibly pay $5 less, and if you want easy city or Eastern Sydney access you would fly to mascot. Long story short. Badgerys becomes the new Sydney bohemeth hub and flies everywhere, but other Australian cities ( business routes) also fly to mascot on qantas and virgin for easy city access.
Badgery's Creek will not replace Kingsford Smith...ever. For a start, Badgery's Creek is designed as a second airport rather than a replacement. Mascot is ideally located close to the CBD where most Sydney bound travellers end up. The big airlines have a lot invested in Mascot and you'll find the biggest airlines probably have very favourable deals with the airport authority. Qantas, for example, isn't going to shift its long standing operations and has not indicated it would.
Badgery's Creek will merely be a secondary airport with cheap airline seats on offer (think Jetstar, Tiger, China Southern, etc). Business travellers and First class passengers generally (note this isn't universal) dont go out to / stay in the Western Suburbs. It's also problematic for airlines as fog covers the area 1 in 3 mornings throughout the year.
The area also lacks public transport and no rail line is planned for the area. The major motorways which roads would connect to (M4 and M5) are already choked with traffic in morning and afternoon peak hours ('peak hour' actually translates to 4 hours these days). If travelling from Badgery's Creek to the CBD you're looking at 1 hour in exceptionally good traffic and up to 2 hours or more in peak hour traffic.
Before considering building a second airport, Mascot should be allowed to operate 24/7. It's absurd that we have a curfew in a so-called global city.
"Qantas, for example, isn't going to shift its long standing operations and has not indicated it would."
I call bull****. They confirmed they are more than happy to operate out of both airports. This was reported in the Terrorgraph on Monday, and the article cites Mr Joyce's direct statements on the matter.
I also call bull**** on the no-public-transport line. It is possible to extend the South West Rail Link to connect to the Second Airport, and this branch links to the East Hills line at Glenfield, which in turn links to the Airport line at Wolli Creek, which in turns runs into the CBD.
I agree it won't be a full replacement. It's a bit unique for a two-airport situation - it's a little Haneda/Narita in its location divide - but I think there is a goal to have two reasonably strong airports in a Gatwick/Heathrow fashion.
Agree.. second airport will be built around the same time as high speed rail to melbourne and a metro subway system... 20 years after coordinated global action on climate change. i.e. never.
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Will Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport ever close down?
Russian-roo
Russian-roo
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 30 Aug 2013
Total posts 7
Will Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport ever close down?
If Badgerys Creek Airport opens, Will the government close down the aging Kingsford Smith Airport? Or will they turn it into a London City Airport sort of thing with only a few airlines operating the airport?
watson374
watson374
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Aug 2012
Total posts 1,285
Unless they think they can make a killing out of closing it for a conversion to some other kind of land - e.g. waterfront residential, or an extension of Port Botany - expect it to be retained as a sort of Haneda. Its inner-suburb location would certainly keep it relevant for domestic use.
Gavin92
Gavin92
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 Jun 2013
Total posts 4
No. Maybe downsize. The way I see it is, is like London city but on a grander scale. I feel qantas and virgin and maybe a few intl airlines may operate from both but the majority of airlines will operate both domestic and intl from Badgerys. For example: qantas would operate Melbourne to mascot and Melbourne to Badgerys. And operate Badgerys to LAX. So if you wish to connect to the lax flight or live in Western Sydney, you would fly to Badgerys and possibly pay $5 less, and if you want easy city or Eastern Sydney access you would fly to mascot. Long story short. Badgerys becomes the new Sydney bohemeth hub and flies everywhere, but other Australian cities ( business routes) also fly to mascot on qantas and virgin for easy city access.
johnaboxall
johnaboxall
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 384
It isn't closing or getting quieter...even with a second airport. And hopefully the curfew can be relaxed for newer, quieter jets such as the A380.
Ben84
Ben84
Etihad
Member since 23 Jan 2013
Total posts 74
Badgery's Creek will not replace Kingsford Smith...ever. For a start, Badgery's Creek is designed as a second airport rather than a replacement. Mascot is ideally located close to the CBD where most Sydney bound travellers end up. The big airlines have a lot invested in Mascot and you'll find the biggest airlines probably have very favourable deals with the airport authority. Qantas, for example, isn't going to shift its long standing operations and has not indicated it would.
Badgery's Creek will merely be a secondary airport with cheap airline seats on offer (think Jetstar, Tiger, China Southern, etc). Business travellers and First class passengers generally (note this isn't universal) dont go out to / stay in the Western Suburbs. It's also problematic for airlines as fog covers the area 1 in 3 mornings throughout the year.
The area also lacks public transport and no rail line is planned for the area. The major motorways which roads would connect to (M4 and M5) are already choked with traffic in morning and afternoon peak hours ('peak hour' actually translates to 4 hours these days). If travelling from Badgery's Creek to the CBD you're looking at 1 hour in exceptionally good traffic and up to 2 hours or more in peak hour traffic.
Before considering building a second airport, Mascot should be allowed to operate 24/7. It's absurd that we have a curfew in a so-called global city.
watson374
watson374
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Aug 2012
Total posts 1,285
"Qantas, for example, isn't going to shift its long standing operations and has not indicated it would."
I call bull****. They confirmed they are more than happy to operate out of both airports. This was reported in the Terrorgraph on Monday, and the article cites Mr Joyce's direct statements on the matter.
I also call bull**** on the no-public-transport line. It is possible to extend the South West Rail Link to connect to the Second Airport, and this branch links to the East Hills line at Glenfield, which in turn links to the Airport line at Wolli Creek, which in turns runs into the CBD.
I agree it won't be a full replacement. It's a bit unique for a two-airport situation - it's a little Haneda/Narita in its location divide - but I think there is a goal to have two reasonably strong airports in a Gatwick/Heathrow fashion.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Most of us would be to old to travel by the time they build a second airport in Sydney.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
Most of us would be to old to travel by the time they build a second airport in Sydney.Sydney airport won't close down in my lifetime.
Really
Really
Member since 02 Jan 2013
Total posts 54
too old to travel........maybe i could learn to type in my lifetime.
spinoza
spinoza
Member since 01 Feb 2012
Total posts 221
Agree.. second airport will be built around the same time as high speed rail to melbourne and a metro subway system... 20 years after coordinated global action on climate change. i.e. never.