Low-cost operator is the first passenger airline to operate to Western Sydney international.
Jetstar has completed the first trial passenger flight at the new Western Sydney international airport (WSI), ahead of the launch of operations in October.
The low-cost operator deployed an Airbus A320 for the test flight from Melbourne on 1 September.
The trial flight involved Jetstar and WSI staff – including flight and ground crews – as well as members of the public participating as volunteer passengers.
Jetstar chief pilot Tyrone Simes says: “We’re doing this eight weeks out from the first flight deliberately. It gives us time to take what we learned today and build it into our procedures and crew briefings, ensuring everything is fully tested and refined well ahead of launch.”
WSI chief operating officer Matt Duffy adds that the Jetstar passenger trials are part of the airport’s operational readiness programme, which will “prepare our staff, systems and processes to be as match-fit as possible when the airport opens for passengers next month”.
Jetstar will be the first airline to operate passenger flights from WSI, with its inaugural flight from the Gold Coast on 25 October. The airline will also fly to Melbourne and Brisbane, with all flights operated by A320s.
WSI, the second international gateway to Sydney, will also be served by Jetstar parent Qantas, as well as international operators Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Vietjet.
The airport on 24 July handled its first commercial cargo flight, marking its official start of operations.
WSI is intended for round-the-clock operations with no curfew, unlike Kingsford Smith. When fully operational, the single-runway airport will be able to handle up to 10 million passengers annually.
The post Jetstar operates first passenger trial flights at new Western Sydney airport first appeared on FlightGlobal.