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

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 on 10 June 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 4+ years 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? South Australia and The Kimberley.
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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

    The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

    The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

    By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

    North Cronulla beach
    Dive into the world’s best beaches.

    That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

    But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

    Beyond the beaches

    Dining

    the dining room at Pippis Cronulla
    Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.

    The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.   

    By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

    Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

    Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

    Visit Bundeena

    Bundeena Ferry Wharf
    Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

    A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

    Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

    One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

    Pristine walking trails

    Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track
    Cool off with a coastal stroll.

    Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

    Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

    Enjoy whale watching

    humpback whale sighting noosa experiences
    Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

    Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.  Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

    Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

    Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.