Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) welcomed its first passengers today, with Jetstar operating the inaugural commercial flights from Australia\u2019s first major new airport in more than 50 years. Travel Weekly<\/em> reports from WSI.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The airport was officially opened on October 25, marking a milestone for Australian aviation. The 24-hour facility is expected to expand capacity, increase airline competition and give travellers across the rapidly growing Western Sydney and surrounding regions more choice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jetstar\u2019s inaugural domestic services to the Gold Coast and Melbourne mark the beginning of passenger operations at the airport, which has been designed to accommodate domestic and international travel under one roof.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Flight JQ365 to the Gold Coast took off around 11am this morning.<\/span><\/p>\n Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opening as \u201ca great day for Western Sydney, a great day for Sydney, great day for New South Wales, and a great day for the nation\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWestern Sydney International is our first new major airport for more than five decades, and a wonderful new chapter in the life of our nation,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOne that will better connect Australians with each other and better connect Australia with the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is not Sydney\u2019s second airport. This is not Western Sydney\u2019s best airport \u2026 this is Australia\u2019s best airport, without question, in the way that it will function carrying forward.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The airport has been decades in the making, with planning and advocacy stretching back to the 1980s. Its opening represents a significant addition to the country\u2019s aviation infrastructure, located around 50 kilometres west of central Sydney.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WSI chief executive officer, Simon Hickey, said the first passenger flights represented the realisation of a long-held ambition for Western Sydney.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor decades, countless people have advocated for an airport in Western Sydney and the social and economic benefits it would provide,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday, that ambition will become a reality as we mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our city\u2019s cultural heartland.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hickey said the airport would expand travel options for passengers and airlines, with the facility expected to connect travellers to more than 250 destinations around the world just over a year from now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to roll out this airport with travel operators around the world, so people come here and they know how easy it is to get through to wherever their travel destination is,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n WSI opens with capacity for up to 10 million passengers annually, with long-term plans to scale up to more than 80 million passengers a year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Its round-the-clock operations are expected to provide additional capacity for the Sydney aviation market, giving airlines greater flexibility to introduce services and routes outside the operating hours of existing facilities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Addressing the press, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the airport could potentially put downward pressure on fares by increasing competition.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHaving the capacity constraints that we\u2019re having at Sydney Airport, putting more airlines, more passengers into the system certainly does have co<\/span>mpetition, and\u2026we hope that also, with competition, brings down pressure on prices,\u201d she <\/span>said.<\/span><\/p>\n A passenger on the inaugural JQ365 flight, Jetstar chief executive officer\u00a0<\/span>Stephanie Tully said the new airport would bring low-fare travel closer to home for those living in and around Western Sydney.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor many customers, the Uber or taxi across the city has been the most expensive part of their trip. From today, for three million people who live in and around Western Sydney, low fares start a lot closer to home,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Accessibility will be an important consideration for travellers during the airport\u2019s early stages, with the Metro connection not scheduled to open until 2027.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting to WSI before the Sydney Metro arrives: what you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"WSI](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_9166-772x1024.jpg\"\/)
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\u2018Australia\u2019s best airport\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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New competition and more connectivity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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