WSI Update: Western Sydney International Opens as Jetstar Flies First Passengers

SYDNEY, Australia — October 25, 2026 — Update to our October 24 story. Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is now open. Jetstar flew the first passenger flight on Sunday, October 25, and the first international flight, to Auckland, is due on Monday, October 26.

What’s new since yesterday

First flight: Jetstar JQ362 to the Gold Coast took off around 11:20 a.m. local time. It was fully booked. Check-in opened at 8 a.m.
First arrival: The return flight, JQ363 from the Gold Coast, landed around 3:10 p.m.
Also on day one: Jetstar JQ375 to Melbourne.
Problems: None reported on opening day.
Next: The first international passenger route, Western Sydney to Auckland, starts Monday, October 26. The airline was not named in the report we read. Other international routes are planned; dates TBA.

Know before you go

Domestic network: Jetstar serves the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Brisbane.
No curfew: WSI can operate 24 hours a day. Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) has a night curfew.
No rail link yet: The airport is not yet connected to the rail network. One opening-day passenger said his trip from Strathfield took about 1 hour 20 minutes by train to St Marys and then bus.
Growth: Annual traffic is expected to approach 10 million passengers by the early to mid-2030s. Cargo flights began in July.

What it means for travelers

Book the right airport. “Sydney” now means SYD or WSI. Make sure your booking is for the right one. WSI is not yet on the rail network, so switching airports takes time.
Early flights will be full. The first flight, JQ362, was sold out, and at least one passenger came just to be part of history. Expect WSI flights to be full in the opening weeks.
Late-night options. Because WSI has no curfew, it may later get flights at hours SYD cannot offer. Watch the schedules as more airlines start.
Allow time for the trip to the airport. Until the rail line opens, plan on train plus bus or a car, and leave extra time.