en.Wedoany.com Reported - Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has reached another key milestone ahead of its opening, with a converted Qantas Airbus A321 freighter becoming the first cargo aircraft to land at the airport. Named after Australian aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton, the airport will launch cargo operations later this month, with passenger services scheduled to begin in October.

The narrow-body twin-engine freighter touched down at Western Sydney International Airport at 2:00 PM local time. The aircraft arrived after a short flight from nearby Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), having flown from Christchurch (CHC) to Sydney the previous day. Qantas stated that this milestone helps validate key operational processes in the airport's new cargo precinct.

The aircraft, registered as VH-XF5, is an Airbus A321-200P2F, 20 years old, and operated by Express Freighters Australia. According to ch-aviation data, the aircraft initially entered service as a passenger jet in the UK in 2006, serving with BMED, BMI, and British Airways before being converted into a freighter. In a statement, Qantas noted that the arrival of this aircraft helped validate operational processes including aircraft handling, ground operations, systems, airside coordination, and cargo transfer procedures.

Western Sydney International Airport, free from Sydney Airport's curfew restrictions, is expected to become a major cargo hub. Igor Kwiatkowski, Qantas' Executive Manager of Freight, stated that the airport will become one of Australia's primary air cargo hubs, and today's flight was an important opportunity to test key procedures before operations begin. Regular domestic cargo flights will commence on July 27, with the new terminal expected to handle over 850 tonnes of cargo per week. Qantas will operate its cargo operations through a brand-new 24,000-square-meter (258,334-square-foot) cargo terminal, supporting various types of cargo and capable of 24/7 operations.

The new airport will launch passenger flights after three months of cargo operations. Qantas' low-cost subsidiary Jetstar will operate the airport's first passenger flight on October 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) transition from summer to winter schedules. The inaugural flight will be JQ362 to the Gold Coast (OOL). Jetstar will operate 21 weekly flights from the new airport, including 14 to Melbourne (MEL), 4 to the Gold Coast, and 3 to Brisbane (BNE). At the end of March, Qantas will fly to Brisbane and Melbourne four times a week via QantasLink using Embraer E190 aircraft.