With exactly 100 days to go until Western Sydney Airport (WSI) opens for passenger flights, we give you the complete guide of all you need to know about Australia’s newest major hub, starting with who’s confirmed to fly and where passengers can go.
After years (even decades) of planning and construction, WSI is entering the final countdown before its first passenger flights take off later this year.
The airport is set to open a new chapter for Sydney aviation, adding capacity and creating a second (long-overdue) major gateway for travellers.
In the final months before passengers services, WSI will move from a major infrastructure project into a working aviation hub, with airlines confirmed, the terminal complete and operational testing well underway.
Jetstar takes the first passenger flight
Jetstar will make Australian aviation history by operating WSI’s first-ever passenger flight when it takes off for the Gold Coast on 25 October. Flight JQ362 will depart at 11am, marking the start of passenger services from Sydney’s newest airport.
From launch, Jetstar will operate flights from WSI to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The airline will fly up to 14 services a week to Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast and three weekly flights to Brisbane using Airbus A320 aircraft.
Qantas will follow from 28 March 2027, adding services to Melbourne and Brisbane with four weekly flights on each route using QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.
The Qantas Group’s five-year agreement with WSI covers domestic passenger services and freight, allowing both airlines to grow operations as demand develops.
“This is a major milestone for Australian aviation and one that has been years in the making,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said in June.
“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.”
International connections take shape
WSI’s international network is also coming together, with Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines the first overseas-based carriers to confirm services.
Air New Zealand will launch nonstop flights between WSI and Auckland from 26 October 2026. It will operate three weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
Singapore Airlines, which was the first international airline to commit to WSI, will begin daily flights between Western Sydney and Singapore Changi Airport from 23 November 2026. The service will operate on Airbus A350-900 aircraft, adding another direct link between Sydney and Singapore while increasing Singapore Airlines’ Sydney network to five daily services.
Meanwhile, updated air deals with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, revealed in May, have opened the door for carriers including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad to access additional capacity at WSI.
WSI has even attracted interest from a potential new domestic airline. Zinc, a proposed ultra-low-cost carrier founded by aviation executive Peter Kelly, has identified WSI as a potential launchpad partly due to its lack of slot constraints.
A new airport ready for take-off
Western Sydney Airport (Nancy-Bird Walton) officially unveiled its new terminal in June 2025, signalling the completion of major construction works and bringing Sydney’s new 24-hour airport one step closer to take-off.
The terminal has been designed to deliver what WSI describes as a seamless airport experience, while allowing room for future growth.
Operational testing has also been underway for some time, with teams putting baggage handling, security screening and check-in systems through their paces.
The airport saw its first jet – a NSW Rural Fire Service B737 – land during emergency simulation testing in October 2025.
Fast forward to this week, and WSI welcomed its first cargo precinct trial flight. The hub’s formal opening and inaugural commercial freight services kick off on Sunday, 26 July.
New flight paths and greener operations
The opening of WSI will reshape Sydney’s aviation landscape, with new flight paths introduced ahead of passenger operations last week.
The new routes affect aircraft movements across WSI, Sydney Kingsford Smith and Bankstown airports as the Sydney Basin prepares for another major aviation hub.
WSI will also become Australia’s first greenfield international airport in more than 50 years to operate using 100% renewable electricity from the start of passenger operations.
The airport has partnered with CleanPeak Energy to deliver renewable electricity and Freightquip to support an almost entirely electrified ground support equipment fleet.
Getting to WSI and what comes next
Transport infrastructure is another major piece of the WSI puzzle.
The first Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport train arrived earlier this month, featuring wider aisles, luggage storage, live flight information displays and other features designed for airport travellers.
But the airport precinct is also expanding beyond aviation, with an accommodation and business precinct featuring a 10-storey, 154-room hotel, conference facilities, retail, cafes and office space all set to open alongside the airport.
KARRYON UNPACKS: WSI is entering its final countdown, with airlines confirmed, infrastructure completed and operations being tested. For travel advisers, the new airport will add another Sydney gateway, creating more options as demand and connectivity continue to grow.
