Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will launch its first domestic flight on Sunday, October 25 with Jetstar and Qantas tickets now officially on sale.
From October Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast and three weekly flights to Brisbane.
Jetstar services will be operated by the Airbus A320 aircraft with space for up to 188 passengers. The first flight will take off for the Gold Coast at 11am on Sunday, October 25.
From March 2027 Qantas will operate four flights a week to Brisbane and four flights a week to Melbourne.
Qantas services will be operated by the QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft which can carry 95 passengers.
“This is a major milestone for Australian aviation and one that has been years in the making,” Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said.
“We’re incredibly proud that Jetstar will be the first Australian airline to begin operations at Western Sydney International Airport and Qantas will follow early next year.”
The news was revealed at a major press conference at the airport this morning.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the frequent domestic flights will give travellers better access to flights.
“These Qantas and Jetstar flights will give all of Sydney, especially western Sydney-siders, more choice and flexibility to travel domestically, with both airlines’ services expected to grow over the years ahead, in line with demand,” he said.
Also announced this week was that the WSI integrated 24-hour Cargo Precinct will officially open on Sunday, July 26, and Qantas will be one of the first cargo airlines to fly from the hub, when its freighter takes off on the evening of Monday, July 27.
WSI will also have trial flights touching down earlier in July to test the new precinct ahead of its formal opening.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development Catherine King said the airport’s opening will be a big moment for western Sydney.
“This is a project 15 years in the making, and I’m looking forward to passenger flights taking off in just 137 days,” she said.
“Tens of thousands of people have worked on making this project a reality, and soon it will be western Sydney’s gateway to the world.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new airport is essential to NSW growth and was proud to see it close to operations.
“In 2011, I commissioned a joint study with the NSW Government into how we’d deliver a second airport. I said at the time, it wasn’t a matter of if Sydney needed a new airport, but when,” Albanese said.
“15 years later, this new airport is almost ready to open.”
Business Western Sydney Executive Director David Borger welcomed the announcement, saying it provides a real alternative option for travel.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see Australia’s national carriers coming to the table,” Borger said.
“Once that commitment is established, routes and frequencies can grow over time.”
“Western Sydney is now home to almost three million people. That is a significant catchment and provides a strong foundation for future domestic and international services. Passengers will soon have a genuine alternative to Kingsford Smith Airport.”
Borger also urged governments to develop an updated Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy matching the new airport, the last strategy was released in 2018.
“We need a refreshed strategy that positions western Sydney as a destination in its own right, from Parramatta to Macarthur, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains. We’re not simply a place people pass through on the way to somewhere else,” he said.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate is a western Sydney-based journalist covering local news. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist. She has worked at The Western Weekender newspaper since 2024.
