Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport reaches a new milestone

On Friday we formally marked the start of work on the terminal at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.

This is yet another milestone on the road to the airport opening in 2026.

The new terminal has been designed with a future focus – innovative technology, a seamless customer experience and sustainable design are a focus.

The terminal will have Australia’s first fully digitally automated baggage handling system. On arrival, you’ll be able to track your bag via an app and will know exactly when it will arrive at your pick-up destination.

Airlines are showing strong interest in the new airport, and so are freight companies. That’s no surprise, given it will have the third-largest passenger catchment of any Australian airport and no curfew.

But Western Sydney International will not only be a state-of-the art piece of infrastructure, it will be the centrepiece of the surrounding aerotropolis and the broader Western Parkland city, transforming the region, driving new industries and delivering some 200,000 new jobs. Already, half of those working on the project are from the Western Sydney region.

The capacity of new airports to turbo-charge productivity and growth is well recognised. They bring trade and investment, have major flow-on effects to sectors such as hospitality and tourism, and boost productivity across the economy.

Western Sydney International is set to transform the national aviation market. Aviation demand in the Sydney region is forecast to double to approximately 87 million passengers by 2035 and double again by 2060. Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport cannot accommodate this demand alone.

Today there are limited slots available at Kingsford Smith, which makes it tough for any new entrant. If you want to operate a domestic airline, you need access to Sydney.

The new airport will change this. There will be abundant new capacity, at an airport with state-of-the art systems that will make it highly efficient for airlines. It will stimulate competition in domestic and international aviation, which is the best way to give Australians more choice and cheaper flights. It is also great news for those regional communities and holiday towns that have a runway big enough for a large aircraft, but are not regularly serviced today because of the economics of aviation in Australia.

The airport will also support Australian exporters, helping meet the growing demand for freight in the Sydney basin. Again, the 27/7 operation of the airport will be vital. We expect 220,000 tonnes of air cargo to move through the airport each year.

It will also boost Australia’s tourism sector. More incoming flights from more airlines means more customers for tourism businesses in Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and around Australia.

Western Sydney Airport will deliver a big boost to Western Sydney – and the whole nation.

Anthony Albanese was Infrastructure Minister from 2007 to 2013, and he failed to get Western Sydney Airport going. It took our Liberal National Government to make this decision, and with each passing day we are getting closer to it opening.

For too long Western Sydney was taken for granted by State and Federal Labor. But with over $25 billion of projects for Western Sydney announced or under way, the Commonwealth and State Liberal National Governments are delivering for Western Sydney.