Major construction wraps and terminal unveiled taking Sydney’s new 24-hour airport closer to take-off

Sydney’s new 24-hour airport is one step closer to welcoming its first passengers, with major construction works across Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI} now complete and the state­ of-the-art terminal formally unveiled today.

WSI CEO Simon Hickey will be joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King as well as senior executives from some of WSl’s key partners including Qantas Group, Singapore Airlines, Menzies Aviation and dnata Catering & Retail to celebrate this major milestone event.

Mr Hickey thanked WSl’s design and construction partners that have worked over many years to help bring WSl’s terminal to life from the initial design concepts by COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects to the design and construction by Multiplex and Woods Bagot; with overall project delivery alongside WSI by Bechtel.

He also acknowledged the tremendous efforts of CPB Contractors/ ACCIONA Joint Venture that led works on the Airside Civil and Pavement Works, including WSl’s 3.7km runway, as well as AeroWest, a Joint Venture between BMD Constructions and Seymour Whyte Construction that completed the Landside Civil and Building Works, including the design and construction of carparks, roads, bridges and utilities.

Drawing on the region’s natural beauty, WSl’s new terminal marries sustainable-by-design principles and innovative technology to deliver a seamless experience for airlines and passengers at Australia’s first new greenfield international airport in more than 50 years.

“Global architecture leaders Zaha Hadid Architects, based in London, and one of our nation’s top firms COX Architecture were selected to develop the initial design concepts of WSI following a competition in 2019 that attracted more than 40 international and domestic proposals,” Mr Hickey said.

“Fast forward six years and WSI is on the precipice of launching a seamless and stress-free airport experience unlike any other in Australia, giving our global city a 24-hour international gateway that will continue to create significant economic opportunities for all of Greater Sydney.”

Mr Hickey said the terminal design is emblematic of the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area as well as the Cumberland Plain and the region’s incredible First Nations culture and history.

“People will love spending time in this terminal as they enjoy the iconic vistas of the surrounding Blue Mountains that are reflected in our stunning feature ceiling and take in the thoughtful design and materials like the extensive use of beautiful sandstone that was sourced from a quarry on the Central Coast,” he said.

“Visitors will be welcomed by the stories of Dharug country that will connect the world with more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture while also highlighting the vibrant communities of Western Sydney.”

The terminal has a climate-responsive fa9ade, and more than 6,000 solar panels affixed to its roof to provide energy efficiency and renewable electricity, reducing the airport’s carbon footprint. In addition, it will collect and recycle rainfall for use in airport operations such as bathrooms, irrigation, and cooling towers.

Passengers flying out of WSI will experience a streamline departure with access to next generation technology to help them move through the airport at speed, while both domestic and international gates are under one roof, making travellers connections simple and efficient.

Mr Hickey acknowledged the thousands of workers who’ve helped bring WSI to life, and the more than $500 million the airport has spent with businesses based in Western Sydney.

“WSI has been the catalyst for billions in investment in the region and has helped create thousands of local jobs during construction and will bring even more opportunities across our precinct and the surrounding Bradfield City and Aerotropolis once the airport opens,” he said.

“Since the first sod was turned, nearly half our workforce has hailed from Western Sydney, with around a third learning on the job, so the region should be immensely proud of this new terminal as so many workers, businesses, manufacturers, and suppliers have literally helped bring it to life. This is their legacy.”

While major construction of the WSI terminal is complete, the fit-out of the terminal’s retail precinct and airline lounges will take place closer to the airport’s opening as commercial tenders and final contracts continue to progress over the months ahead. WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and air cargo services in late 2026.