Western Sydney airport opens to passengers with first flight to Gold Coast
Sydney's second major airport welcomes its first passengers today, with Jetstar flight JQ362 to the Gold Coast departing at 11am Sydney time.
Sydney’s second major airport opens to passengers today, Sunday 25 October 2026. The first passenger flight from Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is Jetstar flight JQ362 to the Gold Coast, departing at 11am Sydney local time.
The airport, at Badgerys Creek about 44 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, is designed to complement the city’s existing Kingsford Smith Airport. Its first stage has a single integrated international and domestic terminal with capacity for up to 10 million passengers a year.
Unlike Sydney’s older airport, the new airport operates around the clock with no curfew, giving airlines scheduling freedom overnight. Cargo operations began in July 2026, ahead of today’s passenger opening.
International services follow almost immediately. Air New Zealand starts the airport’s first international service, from Auckland, on 26 October 2026. Singapore Airlines plans a daily service to Singapore from 23 November 2026.
The opening ends decades of debate over a second Sydney airport and gives the fast-growing west of the city its own international gateway.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sydney_Airport
- https://simpleflying.com/sydney-new-24-hour-airport-region-impact/
- https://i-journey.com/2026/10/21/western-sydney-international-airport-opens-october-25-2026/
- https://traveltalkmedia.com.au/jetstar-to-launch-first-passenger-flight-from-western-sydney-airport/
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