A Jetstar A320 touched down at the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport today, eight weeks out from the first commercial passenger flight on Sunday, October 25.
Landing at 9:30am from Melbourne, the trial flight was part of the lead-up to the official opening of the new facility.
Jetstar will become the first airline to fly passengers from Western Sydney when flight JQ362 takes off for the Gold Coast at 11am on October 25.
The airline ran the trial flight alongside the WSI team, with the end-to-end customer experience through the airport also being practiced to ensure a smooth operation from day one of the airport’s opening.
Jetstar chief pilot Tyrone Simes said flying the first service into a brand‑new airport was a once‑in‑a‑career moment.
“Australia hasn’t opened a major new airport like this in more than 50 years, so this morning was a genuinely exciting milestone for me and the team," Simes said.
“We’re doing this eight weeks out from the first flight deliberately. It gives us time to take what we learned today and build it into our procedures and crew briefings, ensuring everything is fully tested and refined well ahead of launch.
“Today's flight was about getting to know the airport before we carry customers. Crew flew the arrival and departure exactly as they will in October, then worked through the ground side of the operation: the taxi route to the gate, lining up on the aerobridge, and the turnaround that gets the aircraft back out again.
“By the time we carry our first customers from Western Sydney, every element of this operation will be familiar to us - and we can’t wait to share that first flight with them.”
WSI Chief Operating Officer Matt Duffy said the airport’s operational preparation was progressing well, with trial activities on track in the final weeks leading up to the launch of passenger flights.
“Today’s trial flight represents an important part of our ongoing Operational Readiness Program, which is all about preparing our staff, systems and processes to be as match-fit as possible when the airport opens for passengers next month,” he said.
“We have utilised the unique opportunity we have as Australia’s first major greenfield domestic, international and cargo airport in more than 50 years to deliver a highly efficient, sustainable and future-proofed airport. It’s exciting to see that coming to life with these trials in a controlled operating environment before the first commercial flights take to the skies from WSI.”
From opening day, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between Western Sydney and Melbourne, daily flights to the Gold Coast - up from four a week, following strong demand - and three flights a week to Brisbane.
All services will be flown by Airbus A320 aircraft.
Image: A dull one supplied by Jetstar
