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Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is officially open to passengers after decades in the making.
The inaugural service, Jetstar flight JQ362, took off for the Gold Coast shortly after 11:20am on Sunday, with the return JQ363 service becoming the first inbound flight when it touched down at WSI at around 3:30pm, both operated by A320neo VH-A5E.
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“For the first time in more than 50 years, Australia is opening a major new airport. It’s a milestone that has been decades in the making and one that belongs to the people of Western Sydney,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I’ve been a strong supporter of this project for a long time and I’m very proud to officially open it.
“I want to thank the thousands of workers who made it happen. This airport will make a real difference for Western Sydney, creating jobs, supporting local businesses and making it easier for people to travel for generations to come.”
WSI CEO Simon Hickey hailed the opening as a “historic moment for Western Sydney and the thousands of people who’ve spent millions of hours bringing Australia’s new state-of-the-art airport to life”.
“For decades, countless people have advocated for an airport in Western Sydney and the social and economic benefits it would provide. Today, that ambition will become a reality as we mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our city’s cultural heartland,” he said.
“WSI is the most transformational piece of infrastructure our nation has seen since the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It brings the world closer to Western Sydney and opportunity closer to home, creating new meaningful jobs for generations to come.
“Young people growing up in the West can now look to the sky and see their future is bright and right here, in their own backyard.”
Jetstar is flying daily from WSI to the Gold Coast and up to 14 times per week to Melbourne, and will also fly three weekly Brisbane services. CEO Stephanie Tully also welcomed the “historic day” for aviation in Australia as Qantas Group continues to ramp up WSI operations.
“We’re proud to bring more choice and low fares to Western Sydney. For 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,” she said.
“We’ve got a strong track record of opening up new markets, and Western Sydney, one of the fastest growing regions in the country, is going to be one of the great ones. We can’t wait to help more people take off more for less.”
Air New Zealand services to Auckland commence on 26 October, with QantasLink, Singapore Airlines, Vietjet, Fiji Airways, and Qatar Airways all signed on to operate from WSI.
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