25 October 2026 | Aviation News
Australia's first major new airport in more than 50 years has officially commenced passenger operations, with a Jetstar Airbus A320 departing Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) for the Gold Coast on Sunday, 25 October.
The inaugural service, flight JQ362, departed at approximately 11.20am, around 20 minutes behind schedule, carrying a full complement of passengers. Hundreds of spectators, including aviation enthusiasts, local residents and government dignitaries, gathered to witness the historic occasion.
Located at Badgerys Creek, approximately 45 kilometres west of Sydney's CBD, the $5.6 billion airport represents the culmination of decades of political debate, 15 years of planning and seven years of construction.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opening as a milestone for Western Sydney.
“For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport,” he said.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey called the occasion a generational change in Australian aviation.
Unlike Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport, WSI operates without a night-time curfew, providing airlines with greater scheduling flexibility.
Jetstar's initial domestic network includes Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, while Air New Zealand will inaugurate international passenger operations to Auckland on 26 October. Singapore Airlines is scheduled to begin daily services to Singapore on 23 November.
Initially designed to accommodate 10 million passengers annually, WSI has provisions for substantial expansion, potentially handling 82 million travellers annually by the 2060s.
However, its rail connection will not open until 2027, leaving passengers dependent on road transport during the airport's first year.
The opening establishes a significant new aviation gateway for Western Sydney's growing population and marks a major development in Australia's transport infrastructure.
Principal reporting: ABC News, Reuters, Travel Weekly, The Western Weekender and Australian Government announcements, 25 October 2026.
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