Western Sydney International Airport entered its live cargo operating phase on 13 July 2026, initiating trial flights to validate runway infrastructure and precinct systems before the formal commercial launch on 26 July. The first test flight, a Qantas A321P2F, completed a 30-minute journey from Kingsford Smith Airport, marking the transition from construction to operational readiness. Commercial freighters will commence landings on 26 July, with Qantas Freight scheduled for its inaugural departure on 27 July. Texel Air Australasia has signed as a launch partner, while Menzies Aviation and dnata Cargo support precinct operations. The 24-hour hub will initially handle 220,000 tonnes annually, scaling to 2 million tonnes, addressing capacity constraints at Sydney Kingsford Smith. Passenger services remain scheduled for 25 October 2026.