Sydney's second airport opens to passengers: Jetstar's first Gold Coast flight sells out, and there is no night curfew

Australia's first major new airport in more than 50 years opened to passengers on October 25. Western Sydney International (WSI), also known as Nancy-Bird Walton Airport, at Badgerys Creek west of Sydney, began passenger services that day, with Jetstar flight JQ362 departing at about 11:20 a.m. for the Gold Coast as the first commercial passenger flight; reports say it sold out within an hour of going on sale.

Opening-day routes and what comes next

Alongside the Gold Coast service, Jetstar also opened a Melbourne route on the evening of October 25, departing at 6 p.m. In the opening phase Jetstar will operate up to 14 weekly flights to Melbourne, four weekly to the Gold Coast and three weekly to Brisbane. Air New Zealand starts three weekly Auckland services on October 26, the airport's first international route; Singapore Airlines begins daily services to Singapore Changi on November 23, Qatar Airways plans Doha services from December 2027, and QantasLink is expected to join from March 2027.

No curfew is the big difference

Unlike Sydney's existing Kingsford Smith Airport, Western Sydney International operates 24 hours a day with no night curfew; the existing airport largely shuts between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The new airport's first-stage capacity is about 10 million passengers a year, with long-term plans pointing to 82 million by 2060; its cargo precinct has been operating since July 2026.

Early passenger operations are deliberately light so systems, staff and local infrastructure can settle. The airport has no direct rail link yet, with a free shuttle running every 30 minutes to St Marys station. Reuters quoted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describing the opening as a milestone for Australia's most populous city. This site reported on October 17 that the airport would open on October 25; today is the day the plan became real, with the first passenger jet actually departing.