Western Sydney Airport to open in 2026 with no commercial passenger contracts secured
New facility faces questions over airline commitments and ground access as rail link remains delayed.
Western Sydney International is set to begin operations in the second half of 2026, but the facility has not yet secured any commercial passenger contracts. Officials say the airport will open with runways ready by late 2026 and will handle domestic and international passenger services as well as cargo, though so far deals have been signed only with freight carriers.
Major airlines have held back on passenger contracts amid concerns about how easily travelers can reach the CBD from the new airport. An insider told the Sunday Telegraph that the absence of passenger agreements reflects the market’s unease about load factors at launch and the long, potentially inconvenient commute to central Sydney. The story also notes that the proposed expansion of Sydney’s Mascot airport could push back negotiations for passenger services at Western Sydney International.
The lack of carrier commitments has coincided with plans for a road and rail network to connect the airport with western Sydney. The government had expected the new Metro service from St Marys to Bradfield via Western Sydney International to open alongside the airport, but the project has been delayed and is now slated for late 2027, well after the airport’s anticipated first flights. NSW Transport Minister John Graham declined to comment on a start date for the Metro but argued that other airports have faced similar timelines, pointing to Melbourne’s Tullamarine as an example where ground access did not arrive promptly.
Graham said the state is nonetheless pursuing alternative transit links, including new bus services and a toll-free M12 motorway to improve access within the region. He added that the government is investing in a “world-class metro before a plane has even landed.” A Western Sydney International spokesman said the airport would open for domestic and international passenger services and cargo in the second half of 2026, and that several carriers are in planning and operational discussions.
Airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have announced plans to operate services from Western Sydney International, with passenger service expected to begin in the first year of operation. The airport’s spokesman emphasized that detailed planning discussions are ongoing with each carrier to confirm schedules and capacity as the launch approaches.
Sydney’s existing Kingsford Smith Airport is planning a $1 billion upgrade to connect its T2 and T3 domestic terminals and create a unified precinct for regional, domestic and international services. The project, slated to start in late 2027 and run through 2031, would add 12 new international gates to complement the 25 gates at T1. Officials say the upgrade would help accommodate a projected surge in demand, with total travelers rising from about 41.4 million in 2024 to 72.6 million in 2045. WSI is forecast to handle about 19.3 million of those passengers in 2045, leaving Kingsford Smith to manage the remainder. Freight volumes are also projected to shift, with Kingsford Smith handling about 1.4 million tonnes of cargo in 2045 versus roughly 547,000 tonnes at Western Sydney International.
The unfolding situation at Western Sydney International underscores the central role of reliable ground access in airport planning, and it highlights the risk that new capacity can hinge on the timing of rail links and the willingness of carriers to commit to new markets.