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BREAKING: First flights from Western Sydney’s new airport go on sale today

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
Western Sydney International Airport will open on 25 October 2026, with Jetstar the first airline off the blocks – and tickets are on sale today.

Sydney finally has a second airport. Tickets went on sale this morning for the first commercial passenger flights out of the new 24-hour Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), with Jetstar and Qantas connecting the city’s rapidly growing western suburbs to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Jetstar will make history as the first commercial passenger airline to operate from the new airport when flight JQ362 lifts off at 11am on Sunday, 25 October 2026, bound for the Gold Coast. 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.

Australia's first new major airport in 50+ years is almost here. Western Sydney International Airport opens for cargo in July and passenger flights in October – with Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand already signed on.

Qantas will follow in March, with four weekly services to both Melbourne and Brisbane beginning 28 March 2027 on QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft, featuring up to 10 business class seats.

WSI CEO Simon Hickey called it a landmark moment for travellers across Greater Sydney. “Mark your calendars, as the countdown is officially on," he said.

“These Qantas and Jetstar services will give Western Sydney’s frequent business and leisure travellers more choice and flexibility to fly from Sydney’s new 24-hour gateway to some of our nation’s most popular east coast hubs."

Jetstar Airbus A320 plane
Jetstar will make history as the first commercial passenger airline to operate from the new airport.

The airport, officially named after pioneering Australian aviator Nancy-Bird Walton, has been 15 years in the making. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the moment was fast approaching.

“This is a big moment for Sydney, with passenger flights at Western Sydney Airport commencing in just 137 days," she said.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the airline was proud to be part of the milestone. “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."

“Jetstar has an incredible history of growing new markets and being the first airline to launch will give one of the country’s fastest-growing regions better access to low fares to some of our most popular destinations," she said.

Jetstar plane taking off
Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week from WSI.

WSI will also handle cargo well before its passenger terminal opens, with the airport’s integrated 24-hour Cargo Precinct set to open on 26 July 2026. Qantas Freight will be among the first operators, 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.

The airport is designed to handle up to 10 million passengers a year from opening, with long-term capacity to grow to 82 million, comparable to London’s Heathrow today.

Jetstar Airbus A320 plane landing
Western Sydney International Airport will open on 25 October 2026, with Jetstar the first airline off the blocks.

WSI is the centrepiece of the Albanese Government’s near $18 billion investment in Western Sydney, including the future Sydney Metro Airport rail connection and significant road upgrades nearby.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that in 2011, when he commissioned a joint study with the NSW Government into a second airport, it wasn’t a matter of if Sydney needed a new airport, but when.

“15 years later, this new airport is almost ready to open. I want to thank the tens of thousands of people who, over the years, planned, built and are now testing Western Sydney International Airport and the surrounding infrastructure right here in Western Sydney," he said.

Passengers can access the terminal via the new toll-free M12 motorway, with over 6000 car parking spaces on site, and public bus services connecting from Penrith, Liverpool, Campbelltown and other surrounding suburbs from 5 July 2026.

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Qantas launches sale ahead of opening

Jetstar Airbus A320 plane
The airport is designed to handle up to 10 million passengers a year from opening.

To mark the occasion, Qantas has launched a domestic sale with 1.4 million discounted economy seats starting from $105 one-way across more than 190 routes. The sale covers travel between 22 July 2026 and 23 May 2027 – taking in spring and summer school holidays, Christmas and Easter – and closes at 11.59pm AEST on Tuesday 16 June. All fares include checked baggage and complimentary food and beverages.

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.