One of the world’s biggest airlines has joined the carriers that will use Sydney’s new international airport, just days before the first passenger flights take off.

Qatar Airways said on Wednesday it would have three flights a week from Western Sydney International from December next year.

The Doha-based carrier joins Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand as international airlines signed on for the $6 billion airport at Badgerys Creek.

WSI has been more than a decade in the planning and building and is the first major greenfield international airport to open in Australia in more than 50 years.

Unlike Sydney’s existing airport, the new hub – which is about 40 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD – will operate 24 hours a day. In turn, that means it can schedule late-night departures.

Qatar’s in-bound flights will land at 11.45pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while the return leg will take off for Dohar at 4.10pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tickets for the flights go on sale this coming December.

Qantas and Jetstar will be among other “launch partners” when the first passenger flights finally begin at Western Sydney on Saturday.

There have already been several months of freight flights and at least one trial passenger flight – a Jetstar A320 that landed on September 1.

Earlier in 2026, Qatar topped AirlineRatings.com’s annual list of the world’s best airlines.

On Wednesday, group chief executive Hamad Al Khater said the launch at Western Sydney was the next chapter in a long-standing partnership with Australia.

“The new route will link Western Sydney directly with Doha and, through Hamad International Airport, with more than 170 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and beyond, strengthening existing ties and creating new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment between Australia, Qatar and the wider world,” he said.

“With the airport operating around the clock, we will bring more international visitors to NSW, offer Australian travellers the premium Qatar Airways experience from a second Sydney gateway, and give exporters across the state a direct cargo route to customers in the Gulf and beyond.”

Qatar will initially have three weekly flights using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. It intends to progressively increase to daily flights by the end of 2028.

WSI will be Qatar’s seventh Australian base after Sydney’s Mascot Airport, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

“Passengers” from the Jetstar trial flight disembark at the new terminal. Photo: Western Sydney International Airport

Wednesday’s announcement came amid reports the carrier is pushing the federal government to allow it to have more flights to Australia. The Australian Financial Review reports that Qatar’s civil aviation authority is pushing for an an extra daily service to the main airports in each of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

In May, the government allowed airlines from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – Etihad and Emirates – to each add seven flights from the curfew-free Western Sydney International Airport.

Qatar is so far the only one of the three airlines to take up the offer.

Western Sydney chief executive Simon Hickey said he was delighted Qatar Airways was “bringing its five-star service” to the new airport.

“What’s more, with the addition of this premium carrier alongside WSI’s existing airline partners, our customers will be able to enjoy access to more than 250 destinations around the globe within the first 14 months of the airport’s launch,” he said.

“The timing of the service utilises one of WSI’s key competitive advantages – it’s 24-hour capacity – which will connect our global city in new and unprecedented ways, increasing choice, flexibility and opportunity, for business, airlines and their customers.”

The NSW government is building a $12 billion rail connection that will connect Western Sydney International and the wider surrounding area. However, it won’t open until 2027 (a year later than planned).

Earlier this month, the airport announced the launch of an express electric shuttle bus service, in partnership with NSBC Group. It will provide express and direct electric bus transfers for passengers travelling between the new airport and key locations such as Parramatta CBD, Sydney CBD and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

One-way adult tickets from WSI to Parramatta CBD are $25, while it is $55 to Sydney City, and $65 to Sydney’s other airport.

Free shuttle buses also operate every half an hour between St Marys train and bus interchange and Western Sydney.