The new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has reached another key milestone ahead of its opening, with a Qantas Airbus A321 having become the first freighter to touch down at the facility earlier this morning. This new airport, which is named after Australian 20th-century aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton, will open to cargo traffic later this month, with passenger services launching in October.

The Australian flag carrier’s converted narrowbody twinjet freighter landed at Western Sydney International Airport earlier today after a short flight from the nearby Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), where it had arrived from Christchurch (CHC) the day before. This milestone also served the useful role of, as Qantas put it, “helping validate key operational processes at the airport’s new Cargo Precinct.”

Making History

Credit: Flightradar24

At 2:00 PM local time today, the new Western Sydney Airport made history by welcoming its first cargo aircraft. The jet in question was an A321-200P2F registered as VH-XF5, which, per ch-aviation, is 20 years old and is operated by Express Freighters Australia. This jet began life as a passenger jet in the UK in 2006, serving BMED, BMI, and British Airways before being converted for cargo operations.

In a statement celebrating the inaugural arrival, Qantas explained that “aircraft handling, ground operations, systems, airside coordination and cargo transfer procedures” were among the operational processes that the jet’s arrival helped to validate. With WSI being free of the shackles of SYD’s operational curfews, it stands to become a key cargo hub. Qantas Freight Executive Manager Igor Kwiatkowski said:

“Western Sydney International Airport is set to become one of Australia’s key air freight hubs and today’s flight was an important opportunity to test key procedures ahead of starting operations.”

Cargo Operations Will Begin Later This Month

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

While Qantas’ Airbus A321 was the first freighter to land at the new airport, there will be many more arrivals of this kind in the near future. Indeed, the Australian flag carrier explains that “regular domestic freighter operations from Western Sydney International will begin on 27 July, with the new terminal expected to handle more than 850 tonnes of freight each week.” Naturally, Qantas will be at the forefront.

Indeed, the airline will handle its cargo operations out of the new Western Sydney International Airport through the use of a brand-new freight terminal that measures 24,000 square meters in area (258,334 square feet). This, Qantas explains, “will support the movement of a diverse range of goods” and “enable more seamless handling of cargo at Sydney’s newest airport.” Crucially, it will be able to do so 24/7.

Indeed, as detailed in Simple Flying’s previous coverage of the new Western Sydney International Airport, such as in the article below, the existing Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport’s current operations are restricted by a night curfew. While all-night passenger ops are not always common, airfreight is a 24/7 business, so WSI’s new all-night operations will allow Australian cargo to move much quicker and smoother.

Passenger Flights Will Follow In October

Credit: Shutterstock

The new airport will cut its teeth with three months of cargo operations before scheduled passenger flights are allowed to join the party. As announced last month by Qantas, its low-cost arm Jetstar will operate the facility’s inaugural passenger flight on Sunday, October 25, 2026. This coincides with the switch from the IATA Summer Schedule to the Winter Schedule (although it will be summer down under).

On that date, Jetstar’s first flight out of Western Sydney will be JQ362 to the Gold Coast (OOL). The carrier’s schedules will see it fly 21 times a week from the new airport: 14 (two a day) to Melbourne (MEL), four to the Gold Coast, and three to Brisbane (BNE). In late March, Qantas will begin its own operations out of WSI, serving Brisbane and Melbourne four times a week using QantasLink Embraer E190s.