Jetstar has landed one of its Airbus A320 aircraft at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport for the first time, marking a major operational milestone just eight weeks before the new airport welcomes its first commercial passengers.

The aircraft arrived from Melbourne at 9:30am as part of a full-scale trial designed to test how airline crews, airport staff, systems and ground operations will work together before the airport opens on Sunday, 25 October 2026.

The low cost airline is set to become the first passenger service from Western Sydney when flight JQ362 takes off for the Gold Coast at 11am on Sunday 25 October 2026

The trial was run alongside the WSI team and included rehearsal of the end-to-end passenger and aircraft experience, from arrival procedures through to gate operations and turnaround preparations.

Jetstar Chief Pilot Tyrone Simes says flying into a major new airport was a rare moment for the airline and its crew.

“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,” said Simes

“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,” he said.

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.” said Simes

Western Sydney International Chief Operating Officer Matt Duffy says the airport’s readiness program was moving into its final phase, with staff, systems and procedures now being tested in a controlled environment before passenger services begin next month.

“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,” said Duffy

“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.” he said.

From launch, Jetstar will operate up to 14 weekly services between Western Sydney and Melbourne, daily flights to the Gold Coast and three weekly services to Brisbane.

The Gold Coast schedule has increased from four weekly services after strong demand, with all routes operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

The service will give travellers access to about 135,000 Jetstar seats to and from Western Sydney each year, establishing the airport’s first regular domestic network as it prepares to open its doors.

Meanwhile, Jetstar is boosting its Newcastle-Hobart service by 27 per cent when the flights return on October 27.

The seasonal service runs three times a week until April 24, and will increase by 6,000 seats to 28,000.

Jetstar’s executive manager for commercial planning Scott Zeglin says due to the popularity of flights between Hobart and Newcastle last year, the airline added more than 6,000 new low fares seats between the two cities

“Due to the popularity of our flights between Hobart and Newcastle last year, we’ve added more than 6,000 new low fares seats between the two cities,” said Zeglin

“We thank the Tasmanian Government and Hobart Airport for their continued support in delivering more low fares and greater travel choice.” he said.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter says the extra seats mean more travellers can fly direct to Hobart without connecting through another city.

With the first full Jetstar trial now completed, Western Sydney International Airport has moved another step closer to opening its doors to passengers on 25 October 2026.

The arrival of VH-A5C from Melbourne offered an early glimpse of what will soon underpin regular services to the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Brisbane.