Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has officially opened for commercial passenger operations, marking a major milestone for Australia’s aviation sector. Jetstar flight JQ362 became the airport’s first commercial departure, taking off for the Gold Coast (OOL) shortly after 11:20 a.m.
The return service, Jetstar flight JQ363, made history as the first inbound commercial passenger flight to arrive at WSI, touching down at approximately 3:30 p.m. The opening marks the beginning of a new chapter in air travel for Western Sydney.
The inaugural departure was operated by Jetstar Australia using an Airbus A320neo registered VH-A5E. At the controls was First Officer Aglaya Papadokokolakis, who grew up in Blacktown, Western Sydney.
Papadokokolakis described the occasion as a major personal achievement, saying, “It is a huge honour and something I will remember for the rest of my career.”
The new airport is expected to improve access to air travel for communities across Western Sydney, provide additional capacity for future passenger growth and strengthen regional connectivity. Its opening also represents a significant addition to Sydney’s aviation infrastructure.
