Western Sydney International Airport Welcomes Its First International Flight

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport welcomed its first international flight on Monday, 26 October 2026, when Air New Zealand flight NZ165 from Auckland landed at 7.28am local time. After a stopover of about an hour and a half, a full return flight, NZ166, departed for Auckland, RNZ reported.

The arrival marks the start of international operations at Sydney’s second major airport, which is designed to handle 10 million passengers a year in its first stage.

Where Is Western Sydney International Airport?

The airport is at Luddenham, about 45 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district. It is named after Nancy-Bird Walton, the Australian aviation pioneer,. It is Sydney’s second major airport, alongside Kingsford Smith. The Australian government says it took more than 13,000 workers seven years to build.

How Often Will Air New Zealand Fly From Western Sydney?

Air New Zealand will run three return flights a week between Auckland and Western Sydney:

• Until the end of March 2027: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• From April 2027: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
• Route: Auckland (NZ165) to Western Sydney, returning as NZ166.

“More than 75 different teams across Air New Zealand and many partners have played a part in getting ready for today,” said Kate Boyer, the airline’s chief operations officer. Captain Andrew McGuigan, who commanded the inaugural flight, said it was not every day that a pilot gets to command the first international flight into a brand-new airport.

What New International Routes Are Coming?

According to the Prime Minister’s office, Auckland is the first of several international routes planned for the airport:

• Singapore: daily non-stop flights from 23 November 2026.
• Ho Chi Minh City: flights from January 2027.
• Nadi, Fiji: flights from March 2027.

The airport also has a 24-hour cargo precinct, which has been operating for nearly three months and has increased Sydney’s air cargo capacity by around 33%, the government said.

Why Is the Airport Controversial?

Western Sydney International is being run as a 24-hour, curfew-free airport, unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which has a night curfew. Local residents have strongly opposed the decision to allow round-the-clock operations because of concerns about aircraft noise, RNZ reported. The government argues the airport will increase capacity for Australia’s largest city, improve choice for travellers and create jobs in Sydney’s west.

What Does It Mean for Travellers?

For people living in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, the new airport offers international departures much closer to home. Travellers from New Zealand also gain a second Sydney gateway. Fares, connections and ground transport options are worth comparing before booking, especially while schedules are still limited.

Planning a trip? See our guide to whether travel insurance is worth it and our report on the New Zealand-India free trade agreement.

Featured image: Aebion / Wikimedia Commons, CC0. The terminal at Western Sydney International Airport; file photo.

Sources

• Prime Minister of Australia / Australian Government — Western Sydney goes international (26 October 2026).
• RNZ — Air New Zealand becomes first international airline to land in Sydney’s new airport (26 October 2026).