Western Sydney's new 24/7 airport opening date and $59 launch fares revealed

The opening date has been revealed for Sydney's new international airport in Western Sydney, and flights are now on sale.

Tickets can be purchased for Qantas and Jetstar domestic services travelling to and from the $5.3 billion Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport.

Jetstar will be the first domestic commercial carrier to fly from the airport when it opens on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

The first Jetstar flight to take off from Western Sydney will be JQ362, departing at 11am to the Gold Coast.

Jetstar will operate four weekly flights from Western Sydney to the Gold Coast, 14 flights to Melbourne and three to Brisbane, in Airbus A320 aircraft.

Qantas will follow with four flights per week to Melbourne and Brisbane, on QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft, from March 28, 2027.

The new Jetstar and Qantas flights are in addition to both airlines' existing services from Sydney Kingsford Smith airport.

Qantas Group chief executive officer Vanessa Hudson said this is a "major milestone" for Australian aviation.

"We're incredibly proud that Jetstar will be the first Australian airline to begin operations at Western Sydney International Airport and Qantas will follow early next year," Hudson said.

"We're excited by the potential of Western Sydney International Airport to spur local tourism and make aviation more accessible for millions of people in Western Sydney, who currently have to travel to Kingsford Smith to catch a flight."

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) says the airport's launch is a long-awaited step forward for Australian passengers.

CEO Dean Long said though the number of flights is small to begin with, they link to "genuine holiday spots".

"Western Sydney International is a transformative addition to Australia's travel landscape," Loch said.

"It gives millions of people in western Sydney direct access to the network for the first time, and it gives the whole country a new gateway."

Special launch fares are on offer for Qantas and Jetstar flights from WSI.

One-way economy fares start from $59 on Jetstar to the Gold Coast and from $99 in economy or $299 in business on Qantas to Brisbane and Melbourne.

Criticism has been brewing about the transport options, or lack of them.

Named Nancy-Bird Walton after the pioneering Australian aviator who was also known as The Angel of the Outback, the airport is situated in the suburbs of Luddenham and Badgerys Creek, roughly 44 kilometres west of Sydney's CBD.

You can access the airport via the new toll-free M12 motorway, which links directly to the terminal and its 6000-plus parking spaces.

But the public transport options are piecemeal.

A free shuttle bus will run every 30 minutes between the airport and St Marys station when passenger services begin, to be phased out once the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line begins operating.

New bus services will also connect the airport to Penrith, Oran Park, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Mount Druitt and Leppington from July 5.

Ride-share, taxis and private transfers will also be available.

Free pick-up and drop-off zones, long-term parking, accessible spaces and electric vehicle charging bays will be available.

Some industry experts argue the airport's distance from the CBD, particularly by public transport - long a defining advantage of Kingsford Smith - could make it less convenient for many travellers.

ATIA's Dean Long said Sydney had been "pretty blessed" to have an airport so close to the city, noting the new airport's location is more typical of global cities, but still less convenient.

"Is it as convenient to get into the main CBD? No," he said, adding that Kingsford Smith would remain the primary gateway in the near term.

Mr Long also described it as a "missed opportunity" not to have a fully integrated rail link from day one, warning that limited public transport options could hold the airport back.

"We are going to have a brand new airport with limited connection ... that is something that can't be rectified by the time it launches," he said, but added the lack of curfew would open new flight opportunities.

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils president Brad Bunting said infrastructure delivery would be critical to ensuring the airport benefits the region.

"We welcome investments such as the North-South Metro ... but there is a clear need to accelerate delivery of metro links between Tallawong, Campbelltown and Leppington, as well as improved connections to Camden, Fairfield and Penrith," he said.

A spokesperson for the airport said "utilising the new toll-free M12 and broader motorway network, Sydney's new 24-hour global gateway will be within a 45-minute drive to over 65 per cent of Sydney suburbs".

The airport will be opening on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

It will begin handling cargo by the end of July, with passenger flights set to take off by late October.

Crucially, yes.

Unlike Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport, which is restricted by an 11pm to 6am curfew, the new airport will run around the clock.

WSI Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Matthew Martyn-Jones told Explore the airport would operate as a 24-hour global gateway.

"The airport has been and will continue to be a catalyst for economic growth, trade and investment in Australia," he said.

Jetstar flights will begin from Sunday, October 25, 2026, when the airport opens, and Qantas will follow will flights from March 28, 2027.

Singapore Airlines will launch daily flights from between Western Sydney and Singapore from November 23, 2026.

The airline will operate Airbus A350-900 aircraft, carrying 303 passengers across business and economy.

The service between Changi and Western Sydney will have incoming arrivals touching down at 10.20pm in Sydney, and outgoing passengers departing at 11.55pm for a 5.05am arrival time in Changi.

Air New Zealand has also announced flights to Auckland will take-off three times per week from October 26.

Flights will depart Auckland at 6.05am, arriving at Western Sydney at 7.50am. The service will then depart Western Sydney at 9am, arriving in Auckland at 2.15pm.

So far, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand are the only two airlines to have signed on to offer international routes, while Qantas and Jetstar will handle domestic services.

There is no word yet on what dining options will be on offer.

In fact, that department is still to be sorted, with the airport currently seeking operators for restaurants, cafes, bars and fast food outlets.

Mr Martyn-Jones said the goal was to deliver a world-class food offering.

"We want to create a fantastic experience for our customers so they can relax and enjoy a variety of all-day dining options that enhance their travels," he said.

This article was originally published on April 21, 2026, with the headline, 'The 44km trek: Can Western Sydney's new airport overcome transport black holes?', and then updated on June 10, 2026.