The countdown has begun for Western Sydney International: the future landmark Australian airport will open its doors on October 25, 2026, with Jetstar operating the very first commercial flight, followed by Qantas a few months later.
Jetstar, the first airline to take off from WSI Airport:
Jetstar will be the first Australian airline to operate a commercial passenger flight from this new airport. The inaugural flight, JQ362, will take off on October 25 at 11 a.m. bound for the Gold Coast.
The low-cost carrier will offer a total of 21 weekly flights on some of the world’s busiest air routes. Specifically, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights per week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane, all operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, offering 188 economy-class seats per flight.
As for fares, one-way economy-class tickets start at 59 AU$ to the Gold Coast, while another media outlet reports introductory fares starting at 69 AU$ to Melbourne and 75 AU$ to Brisbane.
Qantas will join WSI in March 2027:
Qantas will begin operations on March 28, 2027. The group’s flagship carrier will offer four weekly flights to Melbourne and four weekly flights to Brisbane, operated by its regional subsidiary QantasLink using an Embraer E190.
Qantas’ introductory fares start at AU$99 in economy class or AU$299 in business class to Melbourne and Brisbane, with meals and baggage included.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson hailed this as a key milestone for the industry, calling it “a major milestone for Australian aviation, the result of several years of preparation.” She added that the group was excited about the airport’s potential to boost local tourism and make air travel more accessible to millions of residents in western Sydney, who currently have to travel all the way to Kingsford Smith to catch a flight.
For his part, Western Sydney International CEO Simon Hickey emphasized that Qantas and Jetstar’s services will offer all of Sydney; and particularly residents of the west—greater choice and flexibility for travel, with both networks expected to grow in the coming years.
A Five-Year Agreement with the airport:
This announcement follows a five-year agreement between the Qantas Group and WSI covering domestic passenger and cargo flights, allowing both companies to gradually expand their services as demand grows in Western Sydney.
Air cargo will also be there:
Even before passengers arrive, Qantas will establish a presence at WSI through its cargo division. The inaugural cargo flight will take off on the evening of July 27, 2026, from the airport’s Cargo Precinct, which operates 24 hours a day. More than 850 metric tons of cargo are expected to pass through the Qantas terminal each week, supporting the growth of e-commerce and next-day deliveries.
An airport designed to relieve congestion in Sydney:
WSI, located at Badgerys Creek in western Sydney, was designed to complement the services of Sydney International Airport (Kingsford Smith), which is closer to downtown but subject to a strict nighttime curfew. Unlike the latter, WSI will operate 24 hours a day, offering greater flexibility for passenger and cargo flights, while reserving capacity for future expansion. Construction began in 2018 on a 1,780-hectare site and includes a 3.7-kilometer runway, a modern passenger terminal, cargo facilities, and a business hub.
All these new flights will supplement; rather than replace; the airlines’ existing services from Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, as the western Sydney region experiences some of the fastest population growth in the country.