Western Sydney Airport Opens: Onboard The First Passenger Flight

Australian aviation history was made today as Western Sydney Airport (WSI) finally opened to the public. Western Sydney is the first new major airport to open in Australia in more than 50 years, with the occasion prompting extraordinary interest from travellers eager to secure a seat on the first flights.

WSI’s opening day belonged to Jetstar, who had the honour of operating the first passenger flights from Western Sydney. JQ362 left Western Sydney for the Gold Coast at 11am on Sunday, with the return leg JQ363 touching down at the new airport just after 3pm. Airbus A320neo VH-A5E operated both flights, and was fully-packed for both legs.

I was thrilled to be among the first plane load of aviation nerds to arrive at Western Sydney, and eager to explore Australia’s promising new airport. After all, it’s not every day you get to be among the first passengers to experience a brand new airport, and based on the timeframe of WSI, I won’t see another Australian airport of this scale in my lifetime. Here’s what Australia’s newest airport is like.

Finally A Second Airport For Sydney

Western Sydney International Airport opened to commercial passengers on Sunday 25 October 2026. Construction took almost seven years, but the debate over a second Sydney airport stretches back roughly eight decades.

The airport sits at Badgerys Creek, about 45 kilometres from the Sydney CBD and 18 kilometres from Penrith. Although WSI is trying to brand themselves as “Western Sydney’s first airport” and not “Sydney’s second airport” - it must be said that WSI has a huge operational advantage over the existing Kingsford Smith airport in that it runs 24/7 with no curfew.

Onboard The First Passenger Flight To WSI

Today’s flights were perhaps some of the most popular flights in Jetstar’s history, selling out shortly after going on sale. Arriving at Gold Coast Airport in some pretty miserable weather, I made my way to Gate 20, where festivities awaited the arrival of the inbound flight from WSI.

Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully addressed the media, saying "It's not just a historic day for Jetstar, it's a historic day for Australia."

"Queensland has always been a big part of the Jetstar story, and these new routes will bring thousands more people to and from the Sunshine State for less," said Tully.

Once onboard, it was the usual Jetstar economy class affair, which is an acceptable setup for these short flights. Inaugurals are always fun, with aviation nerds let out into the wild to talk about planes for the whole flight, and the crew added to the occasion with special announcements marking the first commercial flight into Western Sydney.

The descent into Western Sydney International was a new take on a familiar Sydney view. We tracked over Parramatta, with the Sydney CBD visible from my A-side window, then passed directly over WSI at height. From there it was a stunning descent towards the Blue Mountains National Park and a 180-degree turn over Lake Burragorang, followed by a firm landing into a gusty WSI.

First Impressions Of The Terminal

I opted to disembark via the rear stairs for the full nerd experience, and the first thing you notice is how impressively clean Western Sydney is. I don't think I have ever seen a crisper airport apron. Thankfully I wasn't quite as enthusiastic as the poor passenger who managed to fall over and put a hole in the brand-new wall. To be fair, my legs were also a bit weak after this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Cameras and a sizeable crowd awaited us in the terminal, with plenty of fans turning up to see WSI without even having a flight booked.

Despite being an AvGeek, I'll admit that most airports verge on disgusting. On arrival at Melbourne Airport's Terminal 4 hell hole, I was reminded of this very fact.

Western Sydney International is a whole other ballgame. It's smaller than I expected, but simply stunning. Perhaps the centrepiece is the huge ceiling, which sweeps across the main area of the terminal in a wave-like timber sculpture.

The smaller footprint makes sense, too. Stage one is built for around 10 million passengers a year, with a modular design that can expand to roughly 80 million in the long term.

Beyond the ceiling, the materials do a lot of the work. Sandstone feature walls, polished terrazzo floors and chunky concrete columns give the terminal a warm, natural feel, while skylights between the timber slats let daylight filter down into the main hall.

Check-in is almost entirely self-service, with long rows of automated bag drops for each airline.

Food options are slightly limited to start, with several outlets still being built. For now, the Westbound Café near the gates does wraps, toasties, salads and a decent beer and wine list, all with a view of the apron. A salad and a beer here cost me $32, which is definitely an airport price.

There’s no airport lounge open yet, so Jetstar’s opening-day passengers made do with the cafe. That changes next month, when The Rayleigh Lounge opens in time for Singapore Airlines’ first flight on 23 November. Domestic flyers are out of luck for now, with no Qantas lounge announced.

Step outside and the design carries through. Similar timber slats line the huge canopy over the forecourt, and the glass facade opens onto a landscaped plaza of native plantings and red pavers.

Transport At Western Sydney

Ground transport is one area where WSI comes up short. There's no direct train yet, so free buses shuttle passengers between the terminal and St Marys station. If you want to take an Uber, I was quoted a whopping $237 for the 50 minute trip into Sydney’s CBD.

Which Airlines Will Fly From Western Sydney?

Seven passenger airlines have committed to Western Sydney so far, though the early schedule is thin.

• Jetstar to Melbourne 14 times weekly, Gold Coast 4 times weekly, and Brisbane 3 times weekly.
• Air New Zealand to Auckland three times weekly from October 2026.
• Singapore Airlines to Singapore daily from November 2026.
• Vietjet to Ho Chi Minh City from January 2027.
• Fiji Airways to Nadi from March 2027.
• Qantas: to Brisbane and Melbourne four times weekly from March 2027.
• Qatar Airways to Doha from December 2027.

Summing Up

If you live in Western Sydney, WSI is of course worth using. The terminal is a pleasure, the flight was painless, and getting to the airport from the surrounding suburbs will beat the trek to Mascot.

Just don't plan on heading into the city in a hurry. With a 2 hour 16 minute bus and train trip or a $235 Uber to the CBD, Mascot remains the obvious choice for anyone closer to town. The case for WSI gets much stronger once the train is up and running, and international flights from the likes of Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines commence.