Qantas and Jetstar revealed as first airlines to fly from western Sydney airport

Four million passengers are forecast to fly through Sydney's new airport in the first year, as the destination’s first airline is signed up.

Qantas and Jetstar will be the first airline carriers to fly from the new Western Sydney International Airport when flights take off in 2026.

Outgoing Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed on Thursday the airline would be the first to run domestic services from the airport.

“Qantas and Jetstar aircraft are going to be rushing down this runway in just over three years,” Mr Joyce said.

“We’ve made the commitment that both carriers will operate from this airport when it opens for business – on day one.”

Mr Joyce revealed that the carrier would receive one new plane every three weeks up until the airport’s launch in late-2026.

Within a year of opening, Mr Joyce said the airport would home as many as 15 Qantas aircraft – the sixth largest in the Qantas fleet.

Outgoing Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed on Thursday the airline would be the first to run domestic services from the airport. Picture: Gaye Gerard

While international and freight services were not yet locked in, Mr Joyce forecast the airport would one day be the airline’s biggest destination.

“We have a very big desire to operate both international and freight services from this airport,” Mr Joyce said.

“We just have to get more commercial terms that are sensible. Once we get there, we’re going to be very happy to make that commitment.”

In the first year, 10 Jetstar and five Qantas aircraft will fly out of the airport, travelling between Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Qantas forecasts those aircraft will carry around four million passengers through the airport every year on more than 25,000 flights.

The announcement comes as work on the airport – which will services millions of Sydney residents each year – passes the halfway milestone.

Western Sydney International Airport has been given its all important three letter code WSI more than three years before the gateway is due to open. Picture: Supplied

Anthony Albanese heralded the “transformational infrastructure project” as being a boon for western Sydney businesses.

“This is more than just a runway,” the Prime Minister said.

“This is about jobs and economic activity.

“Instead of looking inward to the east, it looks outward to western Sydney.”

Mr Albanese said more than $400m in contracts associated with the new airport had already been awarded to businesses in Sydney’s west.

A business park situated on the site was also forecast to be bigger than Parramatta Square.

In the first year, 10 Jetstar and five Qantas aircraft will fly out of the airport, travelling between Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Picture: David Geraghty

Western Sydney International Airport chief executive Simon Hickey said the airport itself would also one day rival some of the world’s busiest.

“This airport is designed for growth and will one day become the same scale and size as Dubai and JFK airports,” Mr Hickey said.

“We can’t wait for people to come from all across the globe through the heartland of Sydney – western Sydney.”

The airport is forecast to open to passengers in late-2026.

The preliminary flight paths will be released this month.