Blacktown pilot Aglaya Papadokokolakis flew the first commercial aircraft out of Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday. She said the milestone was a career highlight, launching operations in her home region. Her father is also a pilot, and she encouraged young women to pursue aviation despite its male-dominated reputation. The airport opened after about eight years of construction and is set to run around the clock. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened it at a Sunday morning ceremony, and its first international flight arrived on Monday.
Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek has opened to commercial passenger flights, operating around the clock. Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun says the city is positioned to benefit through jobs, investment and freight links. The airport's cargo precinct is designed to eventually handle up to 1.8 million tonnes of air freight a year. Construction has created more than 12,800 jobs, with around half going to Western Sydney workers. Mannoun says roads, rail and public transport must keep pace with development for residents to reach the new jobs.
Passengers on the first commercial flights at Western Sydney International Airport have described the experience as seamless. Jetstar flight JQ362 left for the Gold Coast just before 11:30am on Sunday, one of three domestic services to use the runway first. Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland became the first international arrival, followed by flight NZ166 back to Auckland. Passengers praised the toll-free drive, short walk to the terminal and digital check-in. Airline and airport officials say more destinations will be added over the next year.
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The first passenger flight has taken off from Western Sydney International Airport, a new facility in Sydney's west. Jetstar flight JQ362 is carrying passengers to the Gold Coast, the first service linking the two cities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the airport is the first major new airport opened in Australia in more than 50 years. The airport is part of an $18 billion investment, with planned rail and road projects to follow. Airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways will operate services from the site.
Western Sydney International Airport has opened for its first commercial flights. The inaugural Jetstar service to the Gold Coast sold out in 45 minutes. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport at a ceremony on Sunday morning. The airport is about 50 kilometres from the city centre and will operate without a curfew. It is expected to host 10 million passengers a year by the 2030s and support up to 8,500 jobs. Its first overseas flight is due to land on Monday morning.
Labor has announced that Penrith City councillor Garion Thain will contest the Badgerys Creek seat at the March 2027 state election. It is his second attempt at the seat, after he ran against Liberal MP Tanya Davies in 2023. Davies recently announced she would not contest the election, and the Liberals have yet to name a replacement. The Liberal Party currently holds the seat with a 10.5 per cent margin. Premier Chris Minns said he hoped the seat would fall to Labor.
The first passenger flight took off from Western Sydney International Airport this morning, about 20 minutes behind schedule. Jetstar flight JQ362 headed for the Gold Coast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport, which was first chosen for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek 40 years ago. Politicians from all sides attended the opening. Airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways will operate from the airport, and the first international flight to New Zealand is due tomorrow.
Western Sydney International Airport has taken its first commercial flight, a Jetstar service to the Gold Coast that departed just before noon on Sunday. The airport, officially named Nancy-Bird Walton Airport, is located at Luddenham near Badgerys Creek. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor attended the opening ceremony. The airport can handle up to 10 million passengers a year and will initially rely on road and bus links until the Sydney Metro line to St Marys opens next year. Seven airlines have committed to flying from the site.
The first passenger flight took off from Western Sydney International Airport this morning, about 20 minutes behind schedule. Jetstar flight JQ362 headed for the Gold Coast. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened the airport, which was first chosen for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek 40 years ago. Politicians from all sides attended the opening. Airlines including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways will operate from the airport, and the first international flight to New Zealand is due tomorrow.
Western Sydney International airport is set to open, taking pressure off Kingsford Smith airport at Mascot, which has strict flight limits and a night curfew. The commonwealth government says it spent $5.3bn on the airport, while a metro rail link is estimated at about $11bn. Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, VietJet and Qatar Airways will service the airport from late 2026 to late 2027, with some receiving support from a $16m state fund.
Australia's newest airport, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, opens to commercial passengers on Sunday. The facility, built on the Badgerys Creek site, is expected to transform the region into an economic powerhouse. Leaders hope it will handle over 80 million passengers annually by the 2060s, with seven carriers already committed to servicing it. The airport is designed to expand with the city, potentially adding more terminals and a second runway.
Western Sydney International Airport opens to passengers on Sunday, with flights operating around the clock. The $5.3 billion public project is designed to handle up to 10 million passengers a year. University of Sydney academic Rico Merkert says the airport could take 10 years to become profitable and may need subsidies until then. Government and business leaders hope the airport will anchor an economic hub that attracts industry and jobs to the region, supported by new transport links and the planned city of Bradfield.
Western Sydney International Airport is set to take its first passenger flight on Sunday, marking the end of a long debate over Sydney's second airport. Governments considered many sites since 1946 before selecting Badgerys Creek in 1986. Protests over noise and environmental concerns continued for decades. Construction began in 2018, and the $5.6 billion airport can handle 10 million passengers and 1.8 million tonnes of cargo a year. Residents say they still have concerns about noise and local services.
Aviation enthusiast John Darcy will be on the first international flight to leave Western Sydney International Airport, a flight to Auckland on Air New Zealand. Darcy, who first flew at 40, has taken 179 flights and logs each one in a spreadsheet. He plans to fly to Singapore on Singapore Airlines' inaugural service four weeks later. Melbourne plane spotter Alastair, 19, is travelling to Sydney to photograph the airport's first departures. The airport will become Australia's first newly built international airport in more than 50 years.
Badgerys Creek MP Tanya Davies will not contest the 2027 State Election, a decision she announced on Thursday afternoon. She said her time in Parliament had been an honour and a deep privilege. The decision leaves the Liberal Party without a candidate in three local seats, with none confirmed for Penrith or Londonderry, five months before the election. Davies first won the seat of Mulgoa from Labor in 2011 and was returned at three later elections. She did not say what prompted her decision.
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Western Sydney International Airport, officially named Nancy-Bird Walton Airport, will welcome its first passengers on 25 October. It is located at Luddenham near Badgerys Creek, about 45 kilometres from Sydney's CBD. Unlike Kingsford Smith Airport, it can operate around the clock. Seven airlines have committed to flights from the airport, including Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. Until a rail link opens, travellers will rely on road and bus connections, including a shuttle to St Marys.
Western Sydney International Airport will welcome its first passenger flight this Sunday, a milestone for western Sydney after decades of planning. The airport will be New South Wales' first 24/7 international airport. Its chief executive, Simon Hickey, said the opening gives local residents shorter travel times and more job opportunities. The first passenger flight departs for the Gold Coast at 11am, while the first international flight heads to New Zealand on Monday at 8.55am. Academics say the airport's economic benefits must be shared across the region.
