Western Sydney Airport opens as first Jetstar flight hits the runway

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) today welcomed its first customers marking a seismic day for Australian commercial aviation and the country’s largest city.

Starting proceedings on October 25, 2026, a Jetstar Airbus A320neo, registered VH-A5E, was first to hit the runway, departing Western Sydney International just after 11:20, local time, for a flight to Gold Coast Airport (OOL). A later Jetstar flight also departed for Melbourne Airport (MEL).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the celebrations describing the opening as a “milestone that has been decades in the making”.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport,” Prime Minister Albanese said. “I’ve been a strong supporter of this project for a long time and I’m very proud to officially open it. I want to thank the thousands of workers who made it happen.”

He added: “This airport will make a real difference for Western Sydney, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and making it easier for people to travel for generations to come.”

A spokesperson for the airport said WSI will “transform the way Sydney-siders travel domestically and abroad, substantially boosting capacity, creating greater choice, and delivering 24-hour connectivity”.

Western Sydney, which will operate 24 hours a day, opens with the capacity to cater for up to 10 million passengers a year and has been designed to grow with Sydney.

Western Sydney International AirportOver time, it is expected to become Australia’s primary gateway, with capacity for more than 80 million passengers annually.

The airport’s airline partners include Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Qantas Group, Vietjet, Fiji Airway and Qatar Airways.

“For decades, countless people have advocated for an airport in Western Sydney and the social and economic benefits it would provide,” Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey, said. “Today, that ambition will become a reality as we mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our city’s cultural heartland.”

He added: “WSI is the most transformational piece of infrastructure our nation has seen since the Syndey Harbour Bridge. It brings the world closer to Western Sydney and opportunity closer to home, creating new meaningful jobs for generations to come.”

Western Sydney International Airport is located at Badgerys Creek in Western Sydney, about 44 kilometers west of the city’s central business district.

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