WESTERN Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has welcomed a Jetstar trial flight – an A320 passenger jet – for the first time on Monday September 1, alongside hundreds of trial passengers, as it ramps up the final phase of its Operational Readiness Program ahead of commercial passenger services taking off from October 25.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the trial flight was an important test to ensure Western Sydney International Airport is ready on day one.

“We’ve had a firefighting tanker and hundreds of freight flights take off and land at Western Sydney International,” Minister King said. “Now for the first time, a Jetstar passenger plane has come into land at the new airport.

“The airline and airport crews tested systems like aerobridges, refuelling, baggage services and more, 54 days ahead of Jetstar’s inaugural flight to the Gold Coast.”

Jetstar Chief Pilot Tyrone Simes said flying the first service into a brand-new airport is 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,” he 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’s passenger services will be taking off from Sunday 25 October 2

The 24-hour global gateway is Australia’s first major international greenfield airport development in more than 50 years, providing a world-class experience for travellers while supporting economic growth and enhanced connectivity for Greater Sydney.

Glen Greathead (G.E.G Aviation Photography) was on hand to catch the inaugural arrival and departure of the Jetstar aircraft.