Qantas Airways (QF) and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways (JQ) will launch commercial passenger flights from the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) when it opens on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Jetstar will operate the very first commercial passenger service, with flight JQ362 departing at 11am bound for the Gold Coast. The announcement, made on 10 June 2026, follows the Qantas Group and WSI finalising a five-year agreement covering domestic passenger flights and freight operations.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that QantasLink regional flights will begin from WSI on 28 March 2027, operating four weekly Embraer E190 services to both Melbourne and Brisbane. WSI is Australia’s first major international greenfield airport in more than 50 years. It is located in Badgerys Creek, approximately 50km west of Sydney’s central business district, and serves a catchment area of more than three million residents.
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Jetstar’s Inaugural Flight Schedule and Route Network From WSI
Jetstar will make history as the first commercial passenger flight to depart the airport, with flight JQ362 scheduled to leave at 11am on 25 October for the Gold Coast. From day one, Jetstar will connect WSI to three domestic destinations.
From that date, the low-cost carrier will operate up to 14 flights a week to Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane, all aboard Airbus A320 aircraft carrying up to 188 passengers.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey welcomed the launch, saying that the flights would give all of Sydney more choice and flexibility for domestic travel, with services from both airlines expected to expand in the years ahead in line with demand.
| Route | Frequency | Operating Days | Launch Fare (One Way) | Classic Flight Reward (One Way, Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSI – MEL | Up to 14 flights per week | Daily | $69 | 5,700 Points + $21 |
| WSI – OOL | 4 flights per week | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | $59 | 5,700 Points + $25 |
| WSI – BNE | 3 flights per week | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | $75 | 5,700 Points + $26 |
Qantas Passenger and Freight Operations At WSI
Qantas, which introduced some fascinating Great Barrier Reef livery on its A321XLR, will commence passenger services from WSI on 28 March 2027, operating four weekly QantasLink Embraer E190 flights to both Melbourne and Brisbane. The carrier will also establish a cargo presence at the airport before passenger flights begin.
Qantas Freight will be among the first operators at WSI, with an inaugural freighter taking off on the evening of Monday, 27 July. The airline expects more than 850 tonnes of freight to move through WSI each week.
| Route | Frequency | Operating Days | Launch Fare (One Way) | Classic Flight Reward (One Way, Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSI – MEL | 4 flights per week | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | $99 (Economy) $299 (Business) |
9,200 Points + $43 |
| WSI – BNE | 4 flights per week | Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | $99 (Economy) $299 (Business) |
9,200 Points + $44 |
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson was quoted in the official press release as saying:
“WSI will also become a key hub for Qantas Freight, with more than 850 tonnes of freight expected to move through our new terminal each week, helping us meet growing demand for e-commerce and next-day deliveries.”
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Fleet Profile: Jetstar’s Airbus A320 At Western Sydney
Jetstar has a sizable fleet of aircraft that are 10.7 years old:
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Parked | Current Total | Avg. Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 | 49 | 8 | 57 | 13.9 Years |
| Airbus A321 | 30 | 1 | 31 | 4.5 Years |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 10 | 1 | 11 | 11.8 Years |
| Total | 89 | 10 | 99 | 10.7 Years |
All Jetstar flights from WSI will operate on the Airbus A320 family. The A320 is a narrow-body, twin-engine aircraft designed for short to medium-haul routes. Below are the key features of the aircraft as deployed by Jetstar:
- Total seats: Up to 188 in a single all-economy configuration
- Seat pitch: 28–29 inches (71–74cm) in standard economy
- Seat width: 18.2 inches (46cm)
- Extra legroom rows: Rows 1, 12, and 13 offer additional legroom
- In-flight entertainment: Digital streaming to personal devices (paid service)
- USB ports: Available at each seat for device charging
- Cabin configuration: 3-3 seating layout throughout
The aircraft is noted for its fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs. Its cabin features redesigned sidewalls with fully integrated window shades.
QantasLink’s Embraer E190 At Western Sydney
Qantas will use the Embraer E190 regional jet for its WSI services beginning in March 2027. The aircraft is operated in partnership with Alliance Airlines under the QantasLink brand. Below are the key features:
- Total seats: 94 to 97 seats depending on configuration
- Business class: 9–10 seats with wide seating and extra legroom
- Economy class: 84–88 seats in a 2-2 configuration (no middle seats)
- Meals: Complimentary meal or snack and beverages included
- Checked baggage: Included in all fares
- Operated by: Alliance Airlines on behalf of QantasLink
The QantasLink E190s have between 94 and 97 seats, with up to ten seats in business class. Executive Traveller also noted that Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson had previously described the Airbus A220 as “a perfect aircraft for Western Sydney,” suggesting larger jets may follow.
Launch Fares and Ticket Availability for WSI Flights
Special launch fares for Qantas and Jetstar flights from WSI are available for purchase from 10 June 2026, with one-way economy fares available from $59 on Jetstar to the Gold Coast and from $99 (economy) or $299 (business) on Qantas to Melbourne and Brisbane.
All Qantas fares are inclusive of meals and baggage. Jetstar fares follow the airline’s standard low-cost model, where ancillary add-ons such as baggage and meals are available for purchase separately.
As reported by Australian Traveller, Qantas launched a broader domestic sale alongside the WSI announcement, with 1.4 million discounted economy seats starting from $105 one-way across more than 190 routes. That sale covers travel between 22 July 2026 and 23 May 2027.
About Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI)
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport will welcome its first passengers on 25 October 2026, with freight operations commencing earlier on 26 July. The airport will operate curfew-free around the clock and is expected to serve up to 10 million passengers annually with scalable capacity for future growth.
The airport will cover an area of 1,780 hectares and have a single 3.7km runway. Its initial capacity will be 10 million passengers per year, with plans to expand to 82 million passengers by 2063. The airport will have a terminal with 19 gates, a cargo area, and a business park.
Construction of the airport has generated more than 12,800 jobs, with approximately half going to workers from Western Sydney. More than $500 million in contracts has also been awarded to over 360 local businesses.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King described the significance of the opening. As reported by Newscop, she was quoted as saying:
“This is a project 15 years in the making. I’m looking forward to passenger flights taking off in just 137 days.”
In a statement reported by Karryon, Minister King added:
“This is a big moment for Sydney with passenger flights at Western Sydney Airport commencing in just 137 days. With the new Nancy-Bird Walton Terminal, and brand-new cargo and business precincts readying to open, this won’t just be the centre of travel in Western Sydney, but also jobs.”
Qantas Group’s Broader Network Growth In 2026
The WSI launch is part of a much larger wave of network expansion by the Qantas Group in 2026. This context positions the WSI announcement as one element of the carrier’s wider strategic growth.
Qantas grew and reshaped its network following the post-pandemic recovery, adding more than 40 new domestic routes, 14 new domestic ports, 25 new international routes and 12 new international destinations.
The airline also plans to launch three additional international routes in 2026, including the first scheduled service between Australia and Las Vegas. This was reported by Aviation Week as part of the Routes Asia 2026 Awards coverage.
From February 2026, Qantas began flying its Airbus A220 aircraft on flights between Brisbane and Wellington, marking the first time the aircraft flew on an international route. The A220’s entry into Qantas’s international network was widely seen as the beginning of a broader re-fleeting strategy for the group.
Jetstar’s expansion into Sri Lanka came at a time of broader reshaping within the Qantas Group’s low-cost portfolio, following the decision to close Singapore-based Jetstar Asia while retaining and growing Jetstar Airways’ international network from Australia. That redeployment of aircraft toward the home market is now freeing up capacity for routes such as the new WSI services.
In a report by Reuters published on 10 June 2026, Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson was quoted as saying:
“This is a major milestone for Australian aviation and one that has been years in the making. 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.”
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Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand Are Also
Committing To WSI
The Qantas Group is not alone in committing to WSI. Two other major international carriers have already confirmed services from the airport.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) will launch daily non-stop flights between Singapore and Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport on 23 November 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. The airline will operate its Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft, which features 303 seats in two cabin classes: 40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class.
Air New Zealand in April launched tickets for the three weekly return flights that will operate from the airport, starting 26 October. Air New Zealand signed its agreement with WSI as far back as June 2025.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey, quoted in the Singapore Airlines press release, said:
“Western Sydney International Airport is thrilled to be partnering with Singapore Airlines, bringing more of its Skytrax certified 5-Star service to the people of Greater Sydney. Our 24-hour capacity, coupled with Singapore Airlines’ extensive global connectivity, will open our city to the world in new and exciting ways.”
Qantas Group’s Long-Term Plans At WSI
The Qantas Group has outlined ambitious long-term commitments at WSI that go well beyond the initial launch schedule.
The Qantas Group plans to operate up to 15 narrowbody aircraft — 10 Jetstar and five Qantas — from WSI within the first year.
These aircraft are expected to carry around four million passengers through WSI per annum on more than 25,000 flights. Around 700 operational jobs are expected to be needed, with local recruitment to take place in the lead-up to the first flights.
The cargo hub at WSI will be capable of facilitating Qantas’s transformed freighter fleet of new and upgraded Airbus A321 and Airbus A330 aircraft. Construction of the precinct will include up to 75,000 square metres of total warehousing and be capable of servicing eight wide-body aircraft at one time.
Getting To Western Sydney International Airport
Access to WSI has been a key topic in the lead-up to its opening. Several road and transport upgrades have been completed or are in progress.
Significant road upgrades have taken place at nearby Elizabeth Drive, Fifteenth Avenue and Mamre Road, along with the recent opening of the M12 Motorway. A metro line was supposed to open at the same time as the airport, but NSW Premier Chris Minns said it could be delayed until 2028.
Passengers can access the terminal via the new toll-free M12 Motorway, with over 6,000 car parking spaces on site, and public bus services connecting from Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and other surrounding suburbs from 5 July 2026.
WSI is centrally located 45 minutes from the Sydney CBD and 20 minutes from Parramatta, a key business and cultural centre, and is strategically located in Australia’s third largest and thriving business economy.