The airport’s first flight is scheduled for October 25, with its management promising to alleviate congestion on some of Australia’s most crowded domestic routes.
Tickets for Jetstar and Qantas flights became available today, with Jetstar offering a total of 21 weekly flights to Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
Qantas plans to start its operations to and from the airport in March 2027.
The inaugural departure from Sydney’s new airport will be a Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast, taking off at 11 am on October 25.
Unlike Sydney Airport, which has a curfew from 11 pm to 6 am, the new airport will operate around the clock.
Simon Hickey, the chief executive of Western Sydney International, stated that the services announced are just the beginning, with more options to be introduced in the future to offer customers greater choice.
“Despite the enduring global conflict that poses challenges to the industry, today’s domestic ticket launch is a testament to the confidence in Western Sydney International Airport and the potential this rapidly expanding region holds for the future of air travel in Greater Sydney,” he remarked.
Previously announced international routes include Auckland and Singapore. Flights to Auckland will commence on October 26, while Singapore Airlines will start daily flights to Singapore on November 23.
The Singapore Airlines flight is planned to depart just before midnight, leveraging the absence of a curfew.
“This is a significant milestone for Sydney, with passenger flights at Western Sydney Airport beginning in just 137 days,” said Australian Transport Minister Catherine King.
Located about 45 km west of Sydney’s central business district, the airport received approval in 2017 after discussions dating back to the 1980s.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who initiated a joint study in 2011 on the feasibility of a second airport, stated, “I said at the time, it wasn’t a matter of if Sydney needed a new airport, but when.”
“I want to thank the tens of thousands of people who have been involved in planning, constructing, and now testing the airport and its related infrastructure,” he added.
Vanessa Hudson, the chief executive of Qantas, which also owns Jetstar, commented on the importance of this development for Australian aviation.
“Jetstar has a remarkable history of developing new markets, and being the first airline to launch will provide one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions better access to affordable fares to some of our most sought-after destinations,” she stated.
– additional reporting by Reuters
