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Western Sydney Airport opens with inaugural Jetstar flight

Australia's first major new airport in 50 years, Western Sydney International, has begun passenger operations with a Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast.

26 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Western Sydney Airport opens with inaugural Jetstar flight — Archive photoPhoto: Andrew Harvey · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Western Sydney International Airport opened to passengers on Sunday, marking the start of operations at Australia's newest major airport. The first passenger flight was a Jetstar service bound for the Gold Coast, with hundreds of guests including former prime ministers attending the departure. According to reports, the airport is located in Badgerys Creek and operates 24 hours.

The opening follows years of anticipation for the facility, which was designed to ease capacity constraints at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. The new airport provides airlines with access to a fast-growing and ethnically diverse population centre in western Sydney. However, the extent to which underlying demand not currently being met by existing capacity will materialise at the new facility remains to be established.

International operations also commenced with the airport's opening. A Jetstar flight carrying New Zealand passengers departed as the first international flight from the new terminal, though according to reports, some passengers including New Zealanders Matt and Serena Ross were surprised to discover their departure point.

Some passengers booked on flights from the new airport were unaware of their destination, with reports indicating confusion about which Sydney airport they were using. According to ABC News, some passengers believed they were meant to be in Perth, having not realised their tickets were for Western Sydney International.

Passengers who travelled on the opening flights reported positively on the airport's accessibility and facilities. ABC News reported that many of those on the inaugural Gold Coast flight also made the return journey, noting that the airport offered easy access and no toll charges.

The airport's immediate performance and future growth potential will depend partly on how much additional demand it captures beyond existing aviation activity in the Sydney region. Industry observers noted that what unfolds over coming weeks and months will determine whether the airport fulfils its role as the region's second major facility.

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