The Qantas Group announced on June 8, 2023 that it had signed an agreement with Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) that will see Qantas and Jetstar operating domestic flights from the new airport when it opens in 2026.
The group said that it plans to operate up to 15 narrowbody aircraft, 10 Jetstar and five Qantas, from WSI airport within the first year, flying domestic routes such as Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The flights are expected to transport around four million passengers through WSI airport per year on more than 25,000 flights. The airport also said in a press release that around 700 operational jobs are expected to be needed, with local recruitment to take place in the lead up to the first flights.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King joined senior executives from Western Sydney Airport and Qantas on a tour of the airport’s construction, which is currently more than 50% complete.
“In just over three years Qantas and Jetstar will take off from Western Sydney connecting one of Australia’s fastest growing areas through direct flights across the country,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a press statement.
“As we take delivery of more aircraft and expand our fleet, we see Western Sydney Airport as a significant growth opportunity for the Group, which will complement our existing operations in the Sydney basin and nationally,” Joyce added.
“Qantas and Jetstar passengers are going to love flying from WSI and we can’t wait to welcome them,” WSI airport CEO Simon Hickey said in the same statement.
Hickey added: “WSI is being designed for growth and will eventually become Sydney’s biggest airport. We have a roadmap to grow to 82 million annual passengers, around the size of the world’s major airports, such as Dubai and London Heathrow.”
WSI airport and the two airlines have also agreed to work together to develop projects in Western Sydney that can supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to the airport, which can be used to power flights.