Western Sydney Airport to Open to Passengers October 25

‍SYDNEY — Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) will welcome its first passenger flights on October 25, 2026, marking the commercial launch of Sydney’s new 24-hour airport.

Jetstar (JQ) will operate the airport’s first passenger flight, with JQ362 scheduled to depart WSI at 11:00 a.m. for Gold Coast Airport (OOL). The flight will be operated by an Airbus A320.

Jetstar first, Qantas to follow

From launch, Jetstar will operate up to 14 weekly flights between Western Sydney and Melbourne (MEL), four weekly flights to Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane (BNE). All Jetstar services will use Airbus A320 aircraft.

Qantas (QF) will begin passenger operations at WSI on March 28, 2027, with QantasLink Embraer E190 flights to Melbourne and Brisbane. The airline plans four weekly services on each route.

The Qantas Group said the services are part of a five-year agreement with Western Sydney International covering domestic passenger flights and freight. The new flights will operate in addition to the group’s existing services at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), rather than replacing them.

International flights start quickly

International service is scheduled to begin the day after the passenger opening. Air New Zealand (NZ) will launch Auckland (AKL) flights from WSI on October 26, while Singapore Airlines (SQ) will begin daily Singapore Changi (SIN) service on November 23.

That makes the opening more than a domestic launch. Within its first month of passenger operations, WSI is expected to handle domestic, trans-Tasman, and long-haul international traffic.

Freight arrives first

Cargo operations will begin before passengers. The Australian government said freight operations at WSI will commence on July 26, with Qantas Freight beginning regular flights the following evening. Qantas said more than 850 tonnes of freight are expected to move through its new WSI terminal each week.

The freight timing matters because WSI is designed as a 24-hour airport, giving Sydney an overnight cargo option beyond the constraints at Kingsford Smith, which operates under a night curfew. Reuters noted that the existing Sydney airport is limited by curfew rules between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Sydney’s curfew-free second airport

Western Sydney International is located at Badgerys Creek, about 60 km west of central Sydney. The A$5.6 billion project as Australia’s first major new airport in more than 50 years.

The airport is expected to handle up to 10 million passengers annually in its initial phase, with scalable expansion planned for future demand. The Australian government also framed the airport as the centerpiece of nearly A$18 billion in wider Western Sydney infrastructure investment, including future rail and road links.

The strategic difference is the curfew-free operating model. Unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith, WSI can support late-night and early-morning passenger, cargo, and long-haul operations, giving airlines more flexibility for Asia, Gulf, and Europe-facing schedules.

Sydney grows connections

Western Sydney International gives Sydney something it has lacked for decades: a second commercial airport with 24-hour operating capability.

The first passenger schedule is measured rather than spectacular, led by domestic Jetstar flights and followed by QantasLink, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines. But the larger significance is structural. WSI adds capacity to Australia’s largest aviation market, gives Western Sydney residents a closer gateway, and creates a new curfew-free platform for freight and long-haul growth.

The challenge will be airline adoption. The airport’s western location gives it direct access to one of Australia’s fastest-growing population regions, but it will also need to prove that passengers and premium traffic will use it alongside the established Sydney Kingsford Smith hub. Additionally, Western Sydney International will not be a “budget option,” at least for Qantas, CEO Vanessa Hudson has said.

Speaking to media at WSI on Wednesday, Hudson said leisure travel, especially on Jetstar, is expected to account for the largest share of Qantas Group traffic at the airport, though premium and business travel will also form an important part of its passenger mix.