The first passenger flight has departed from Sydney’s new Western Sydney International Airport.
Jetstar operated the inaugural passenger service from Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) at 11.22am on Sunday. Flight JQ362 to the Gold Coast was scheduled to depart at 11am but was delayed slightly.
Air New Zealand is set to operate the airport’s first international passenger flight on Monday. Flight NZ165 is due to arrive from Auckland at 7.55am, before its return service departs WSI an hour later.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the $5.3 billion airport shortly before the historic departure, unveiling a commemorative plaque.
‘I’ve been a strong supporter of this project for a long time and I’m very proud to officially open it,’ he said.
‘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.’
Plans for a second Sydney airport had been discussed for decades before construction began at the site, 45km west of the CBD, in late 2018.
Jetstar operated the first passenger flight (above) from Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday
Flight JQ362 (above) to the Gold Coast departed WSI at 11.22am carrying its first passengers
Dozens of people gathered to watch the inaugural flight take off on Sunday
Albanese also used the airport’s opening to respond to criticism over its location.
‘To all those who comment about the distance to the CBD. Some of the people who write that should actually wake up to themselves,’ he said.
‘Most of the people do not live closer to the CBD than they do to here.
‘Sydney has looked towards the harbour and the CBD.
‘What this does is turn it around to where people live, to where jobs occur, to where investment occurs to Western Sydney.’
Western Sydney International Airport will operate around the clock, unlike Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, which closes between 11pm and 6am.
Singapore Airlines will begin operating flights from WSI on November 23, followed by VietJet Air in January and Fiji Airways in March.
Qatar Airways became the fifth international airline to commit to operating at the airport, with flights between Sydney and Doha scheduled to begin late next year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) applauded the hundreds of workers who helped bring the $5.3 billion airport into operation during his visit on Sunday
Air New Zealand will operate WSI’s (above) first international passenger flight on Monday
WSI (above) will slowly begin operating several international and domestic routes
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The airport will also offer domestic flights to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Cargo flights have operated at WSI for the last three months.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he expected the increased pressure would lead to reduced airfares through competition.
‘[It] certainly means more competition in terms of giving the good people of Sydney another option, and obviously freight options and all the rest of it as well,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘So it can only be a good thing for competition and the economy more broadly. When it comes to the particular elements around ticket prices and freight charges and all the rest of it, we’ll see how that plays out.
But in aggregate, in principle, it’s a very good development for competition. More than that, a good development for that really important part of our national economy.’
Western Sydney Airport chairman Paul O’Sullivan applauded the hundreds of workers who helped get the airport running.
‘This is more than the opening of a building. It fulfils a nation-building promise to deliver a new 24-hour international gateway for Australia,’ he said.
WSI (above) is about 45km from CBD and is set to become a major hub
‘For decades, this airport existed only in the imagination of a small group of people with a bold vision.
‘Today, that vision is a reality, and today is also evidence that Australia can deliver major infrastructure projects safely, on time and on budget.’
Western Sydney Airport chief executive Simon Hickey said it was ‘difficult to fathom the impact’ the airport would have on the city.
Other guests at the opening included former prime ministers Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison, federal Labor ministers Chris Bowen, Don Farrell, Jason Clare and Michelle Rowland, and NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.
Jetstar will operate up to 24 flights out of the airport each week, including daily services to the Gold Coast and three flights a week to Brisbane.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the new airport (above) would likely increase competition as it grows in popularity
The airline’s chief executive, Stephanie Tully, said the airport was looking to become a major hub.
‘For the people that live in this area, it’s just a massive step change to access and frequency and departures. This airport provides a choice for people in NSW, which they’ve never had before,’ she said.
‘Our Gold Coast service increased frequency before we even took off. So that shows you there’s great demand for travel from people that live in this area.’
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Join the discussion
Will Western Sydney’s new airport truly benefit ordinary travellers or just fuel airline profits?