The first cargo aircraft to touchdown at Western Sydney International airport was delayed by a typhoon and technical issues.<\/p>\n
The flight\u2019s captain David McCutcheon pointed to a last minute aircraft swap and a \u201cminor mechanical\u201d issue to explain the more than one hour setback in arrival time on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe needed an engineer to come and rectify something on board so these things happen,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Qantas Freight executive manager Igor Kwiatkowski said while it was \u201calways disappointing to have a delay\u201d, the aircraft change was due to unforeseen circumstances. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe delays were really down to there\u2019s a typhoon off Shanghai. We had an aircraft in Shanghai that was coming out and that caused the delay and hence we have to make an operational change this morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Despite a wayward start, the touchdown of the Qantas A321 freighter at 2pm marked a major milestone and the culmination of years of anticipation. <\/p>\n
Mr McCutcheon said the flight ran \u201cvery smoothly\u201d and staff on board were \u201cvery happy with the flight\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big honour and something that you don\u2019t get to do much in your career, in terms of bringing your first flight into a new airport.\u201d <\/p>\n
Western Sydney International chief executive Simon Hickey said the successful flight signified the airport freight project \u201ccoming to fruition\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cargo precinct here is really going to service the world \u2026 and it is going to connect jobs in Western Sydney International and create opportunities that don\u2019t exist today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really hitting the end of the runway here at WSI and (it was) exciting to see the Qantas A321 landing here and starting our test flights before we open at the end of the moment.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 24-hour Precinct is set to \u201csubstantially enhance\u201d Sydney\u2019s airfreight systems and aims to support the movement of 220,000 tonnes of cargo annually.<\/p>\n
While the facility currently boasts half the capacity of Sydney Airport, the infrastructure has the growth potential to move two million tonnes per year in the future. <\/p>\n
Acting Minister for Transport Kristy McBain welcomed Qantas Freight\u2019s first trial flight to Sydney\u2019s new airport. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the largest plane to land at Western Sydney International Airport so far, as we get ready to open for freight services,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe new airport will connect Western Sydney to the world, allowing us to move produce and goods from every corner of the state to new markets across the globe.\u201d <\/p>\n
Qantas and Jetstar both recently announced their services will fly from the new location later in the year.<\/p>\n
Jetstar is set to operate its first commercial passenger plane from the Airport on 25 October 2026, when the airport officially opens for passengers. <\/p>\n
The flight will take off at 11am local time and will be bound for the Gold Coast, marking the first of four weekly flights to the destination.<\/p>\n
The low-cost carrier will also operate three weekly flights to Brisbane and up to 14 to Melbourne Airport. <\/p>\n
While Qantas Freight will start officially operating by the end of July, its passenger services will only begin on 28 March 2027.<\/p>\n
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