Aviation fire crews perform a water cannon salute at the opening of the WSI air freight terminal on 27 July. Photo: Glen Greathead.
The new Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) began commercial freight operations on Monday (27 July) with the departure of a Qantas flight loaded with Australia Post parcels and other cargo.
The first official flight was QF7340, which departed WSI at 10:25 pm for Brisbane. It followed a week of trial arrivals and departures of various aircraft types, including a Qantas Freight A330 and A321s, Texel Air and Team Global Express Boeing 737s, and BAE 146s operated by ASL Airlines and National Jet Express.
Most of these aircraft finished their regular freight services into Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport last week, and will now make WSI their Sydney hub.
Up to 1.8 million tonnes of air cargo annually will be handled by Qantas Freight, Menzies Aviation, dnata Cargo, dnata Catering & Retail, and Texel Air. The airport’s freight apron can accommodate up to 16 narrow-body or up to eight larger, widebody aircraft at once.
Larger international freight companies such as DHL, UPS and FedEx will continue to use Kingsford Smith for now, as these flights currently arrive and depart within that airport’s curfew hours.
The first flight also coincided with the signing of a 10-year extension to the air freight partnership agreement between Qantas and Australia Post.
Qantas says its fleet of two A330 freighters and six A321 freighters will fly domestic freight services initially between WSI and Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth, as well as onward flights to regional centres, processing more than 850 tonnes of freight a week. It says it expects to start international freight flights from WSI in 2027.
Qantas’ CEO of International and Freight Cam Wallace said Australia ws increasingly reliant on air freight with the continued growth of e-commerce, and that the airline was proud to be extending its partnership with Australia Post.
“We’ve transformed our freighter fleet over the past few years, with newer, larger and more efficient aircraft to support Australia Post and their customers’ needs,” he said.
“This new terminal will help us meet growing demand for next-day deliveries and move express cargo across Australia and the world.”
Australia Post Group CEO and managing director Paul Graham added: “For more than a century, Australia Post and Qantas have worked together to connect communities across Australia, and this new agreement ensures we can continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers for years to come.
“As online shopping grows and expectations for faster, more reliable delivery continue to rise, this partnership gives us the capacity, flexibility and resilience to keep parcels and freight moving across Australia and around the world.”
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said the airport’s state-of-the-art cargo precinct would create opportunities for Greater Sydney’s businesses, workers and broader supply chains.
“Air freight underpins many of NSW’s highest-value industries, with our 24-hour cargo precinct initially capable of moving about a quarter of a million tonnes of freight per year, representing a massive boost to Sydney’s overall air cargo capacity.
“We’re delighted to have Qantas Freight as one of our top-tier hub’s launch partners, with their freighters taking to the skies today — ensuring NSW consumers enjoy more convenience and swifter delivery of their coveted online purchases.”
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said that, with testing now complete, WSI was operational and welcoming freight flights.
“Our first flights have arrived and are being packed and readied for departure as we speak,” she said before the departure of the first flight.
“It’s exciting progress as we gear up to seeing passenger flights commence on October 25.”
Minister for Industry Senator Tim Ayres added: “Western Sydney Airport gives freight and logistics operators the round-the-clock capacity they need in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.
“Combined with the Aerotropolis, it will mean manufacturers and exporters can move goods from factory floors to aircrafts in hours, not days — creating faster, more resilient supply chains and helping Australian businesses to compete in global markets.
“This is how we build industrial capability, attract investment and cement Western Sydney as a major hub for industry, logistics and advanced manufacturing.”
Passenger services from WSI are scheduled to begin from 11 am on 25 October, when a Jetstar flight will operate to the Gold Coast.
