Western Sydney finally has flights to book. Qantas and Jetstar have confirmed they’ll connect Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) to some of Australia’s favourite domestic destinations, with Jetstar operating the very first commercial passenger flight when the airport opens on Sunday 25 October 2026.
The announcement follows the Qantas Group and WSI finalising a five-year agreement covering domestic passenger flights and freight, giving both airlines room to build their schedules as demand grows in Western Sydney.
Jetstar first off the runway
Jetstar will make history when JQ362 departs at 11am on 25 October 2026, bound for the Gold Coast - the first commercial passenger flight ever to take off from WSI.
From launch, Jetstar will operate all flights with Airbus A320 aircraft:
- WSI - Melbourne: up to 14 flights a week, daily
- WSI - Gold Coast: four flights a week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
- WSI - Brisbane: three flights a week (Tue, Thu, Sat)
Qantas follows in March 2027
Qantas operations begin on 28 March 2027, with four flights per week to both Melbourne and Brisbane (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) on QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.
Qantas will also be one of the first commercial airlines to fly from the airport full stop - its inaugural freighter service departs from WSI’s 24-hour Cargo Precinct on the evening of Monday 27 July 2026, with more than 850 tonnes of freight expected to move through the new terminal each week.
Importantly, these flights grow the overall number of services to the Sydney basin - they’re in addition to both airlines’ existing flights from Kingsford Smith.
Launch fares - this is the bit you care about
Special launch fares go on sale from the morning of 10 June 2026, available until sold out.
Jetstar from 25 October 2026
| Route | Fare from (one way) | Classic Reward seats (economy) |
|---|---|---|
| WSI - Melbourne | $69 | 5,700 points + $21 |
| WSI - Gold Coast | $59 | 5,700 points + $25 |
| WSI - Brisbane | $75 | 5,700 points + $26 |
Jetstar fares are one-way and exclude checked bags.
Qantas from 28 March 2027
| Route | Fare from (one way) | Classic Reward seats (economy) |
|---|---|---|
| WSI - Melbourne | $99 economy / $299 business | 9,200 points + $43 |
| WSI - Brisbane | $99 economy / $299 business | 9,200 points + $44 |
All Qantas fares include meals and baggage.
At 5,700 points one way, those Jetstar Classic Reward seats are also among the cheapest points redemptions on the Qantas program - worth a look if you’ve got a small balance gathering dust.
What the airlines are saying
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson called it “a major milestone for Australian aviation and one that has been years in the making”, saying the airport will “make aviation more accessible for millions of people in Western Sydney, who currently have to travel to Kingsford Smith to catch a flight.”
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the countdown is officially on: “Mark your calendars… the very first commercial passenger flight takes off for the Gold Coast on Sunday 25 October.” He pointed to the new services giving Western Sydney’s travellers “more choice and flexibility to fly from Sydney’s new 24-hour gateway”, with flights expected to grow over the years ahead.
Why this matters
WSI is Australia’s first major greenfield international airport in more than 50 years, and as a 24-hour curfew-free airport it’s a genuinely big deal for Greater Sydney. For the millions of people in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions, this means no more trekking across town to Mascot for a cheap Gold Coast or Melbourne flight.
Flights to and from Western Sydney International remain subject to government and regulatory approval, and launch fares are available until sold out - so if you want to be on one of the first flights out of Sydney’s newest airport, don’t sit on it.