Western Sydney Airport Opens to Passengers With Jetstar Flight

SYDNEY — Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) opened to commercial passengers on October 25, 2026, with Jetstar Airways (JQ) flight JQ362 departing for the Gold Coast (OOL). ABC reported that the airport's first commercial passenger flight took off shortly before 11:30 AEDT.

The departure begins a new stage for the Badgerys Creek airport, whose cargo precinct opened in July. Passenger services will build up over the coming months, with international flights scheduled to start on October 26 and Qantas planning passenger services from March 2027.

Capacity without a Curfew

The Australian government has put the airport's initial capacity at up to 10 million passengers a year, with provision for expansion. That is the scale of the infrastructure, rather than the number expected to pass through the terminal in its first year.

WSI has a roughly 12,100-foot (3,700-meter) runway and will operate without a curfew. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), by comparison, has a 23:00–06:00 local-time curfew that prohibits most aircraft operations, with specified exceptions.

Singapore Airlines (SQ) has scheduled its WSI departure for 23:55 local time when its planned daily nonstop Singapore service starts on November 23, subject to regulatory approvals. The late departure illustrates how airlines can use the new airport's overnight operating window. Airways reported the airline's initial Western Sydney commitment in August 2024.

Airline Services Arrive in Stages

Air New Zealand (NZ) plans to begin three weekly return services between Auckland (AKL) and WSI on October 26, becoming the airport's first international passenger airline. Its existing Kingsford Smith services will continue alongside the new route.

Jetstar's initial domestic schedule includes Melbourne (MEL), the Gold Coast and Brisbane (BNE). Qantas (QF) has announced a March 28, 2027 start for Melbourne and Brisbane services, subject to government and regulatory approvals. The Qantas Group says its WSI passenger services will add to its Kingsford Smith operations.

Bus Connections Precede Airport Rail

The passenger opening comes before the airport's rail connection. Transport for NSW says there are currently no direct train services to WSI, with the airport metro line still under construction.

The temporary, fare-free WSI Link bus connects the terminal with St Marys Station every 30 minutes, providing a transfer to the existing rail network. Five other bus routes link the airport with centers including Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown.