Peter Kelly Seeks $200 Mill for Western Sydney Airport Airline

Peter Kelly is seeking up to $200 mill to launch Zinc Airlines from western sydney airport, with plans to fly Airbus A321neos and compete as Australia’s answer to Ryanair. The former head of Qantas’ frequent flyer program wants the airline based at Western Sydney International Airport, which opens this October.

Kelly’s Zinc Airlines Plan

Kelly wants Zinc Airlines to target cheaper base fares across the country than Jetstar. He says the model would follow the ultra-low-cost approach used by Ryanair, with passengers paying extra for seat selection, priority boarding and checked luggage.

The planned airline would also avoid the competitive market at the country’s busiest airports by operating from Western Sydney International Airport instead. That airport’s opening this October gives the project a fixed launch point as the airline looks for funding.

Australia’s Budget Airline Market

Zinc’s pitch comes after a difficult run for smaller Australian airlines. Rex Airlines went bust in 2024, and budget carrier Bonza had collapsed the same year, leaving fewer low-cost options in the market.

Kelly’s proposal would place Zinc directly into that gap with an ultra-low-cost carrier model and Airbus A321neos as the planned fleet. The immediate test is whether the funding round can close at the level Kelly is seeking, because the airline cannot move from plan to operation without it.

Western Sydney International Airport

For passengers, the practical change is simple: if Zinc launches as planned, Western Sydney International Airport would become the airline’s base rather than one of the country’s busiest airports. That would make the new airport part of the country’s low-fare competition from day one.