A place in the history books but no toastie: my time on board Western Sydney airport’s inaugural flight

Guardian reporter Catie McLeod on JQ362, the inaugural flight from the newly opened Western Sydney airport. Photograph: Catie McLeod/The Guardian

My journey begins at 3.57am when I step out on to the street in Enmore, wheeling a small suitcase.

I’m going to catch the inaugural flight from the new Western Sydney international airport on Sunday morning, operated by Jetstar. The enormous $5.3bn greenfield development more than 40 years in the making is opening its architecturally lauded halls to commercial passengers, with significant fanfare.