A place in the history books but no toastie: my time on board Western Sydney airport’s inaugural flight
News Source
•Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:31:47 GMT
📰 What Happened
Western Sydney International Airport opened on Sunday. The first commercial flight was Jetstar JQ362 to the Gold Coast. The Airbus A320 Neo carried 188 people, and tickets sold out in 45 minutes.
A Guardian reporter left home at 3.57am and took two buses to get there. She arrived at 6.35am, having spent more time on buses than in the air.
The airport cost $5.3bn and took more than 40 years to plan. The site was farmland. It now holds two terminals, gardens and a car park, with walls of local sandstone.
🔍 The Backstory
Six airlines have signed up after Jetstar. Air New Zealand flies the first international service on Monday. The NSW government is helping pay international carriers to come.
A train station is not ready yet. The metro link is delayed until at least December 2027, so buses are the main way in for now.
The opening drew politicians and the family of Nancy Bird-Walton, the pilot the airport is named after. The prime minister called it an extraordinary day. Passengers cheered as the plane took off.
🎯 Why It Matters
Millions of people in western Sydney no longer need to cross the city to catch a flight. Cheaper fares may follow, but only if airlines keep flying there.
Western Sydney International Airport opened on Sunday. The first commercial flight was Jetstar JQ362 to the Gold Coast. The Airbus A320 Neo carried 188 people, and tickets sold out in 45 minutes.
A Guardian reporter left home at 3.57am and took two buses to get there. She arrived at 6.35am, having spent more time on buses than in the air.
The airport cost $5.3bn and took more than 40 years to plan. The site was farmland. It now holds two terminals, gardens and a car park, with walls of local sandstone.
Six airlines have signed up after Jetstar. Air New Zealand flies the first international service on Monday. The NSW government is helping pay international carriers to come.
A train station is not ready yet. The metro link is delayed until at least December 2027, so buses are the main way in for now.
The opening drew politicians and the family of Nancy Bird-Walton, the pilot the airport is named after. The prime minister called it an extraordinary day. Passengers cheered as the plane took off.
Millions of people in western Sydney no longer need to cross the city to catch a flight. Cheaper fares may follow, but only if airlines keep flying there.