Around 20,000 runners and walkers from across the country took part in the Western Sydney International Airport’s Runway Run/Walk on 26 April in support of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
More than $100,000 was raised during the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race on the airport’s new runway.
Runway Run/Walk transformed the aviation setting into a landmark national event, with the 3.7km runway loop offering multiple distances, including Half Marathon, 14km, 7km and 4km events.
It gave runners and walkers behind-the-scenes access to the runway at Sydney’s first 24/7 airport before it welcomes its first passengers and planes later this year.
Three weekly flights by Air New Zealand will commence on 26 October, while the first Singapore Airlines daily flight will take off on 23 November.
Inaugural international tickets from Singapore Airlines for WSI went on sale on 25 March, while Air New Zealand tickets went on sale on 2 April.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “This new offering is going to provide the world with direct access to one of the nation’s fastest growing visitor economies, and we look forward to welcoming the first international visitors into Western Sydney.
“Through the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, we’re backing new routes that will drive visitation, support local jobs and help grow the NSW visitor economy towards our goal of $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure by 2035.”
Last week, Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) CEO Simon Hickey told the Daily Telegraph’s Future Western Sydney event there had been strong demand for the first flights to the airport.
“Singapore is saying they’re pretty much sold out in the first couple of months,” he said. “They’re telling us they’re nearly through their inventory.”
