Major construction is now complete at Western Sydney International Airport.
Sydney’s new 24-hour airport has reached a critical milestone, with the terminal building at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) officially unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The project, which includes extensive airside and landside infrastructure, remains on schedule for operations to commence in late 2026.
The build, delivered by Multiplex and Woods Bagot under Bechtel’s oversight, includes a 3.7-kilometre runway, taxiways, terminal building, and support infrastructure.
Civil and pavement works were led by a CPB Contractors and ACCIONA joint venture, while the AeroWest JV (BMD Constructions and Seymour Whyte) handled landside works including roadways, car parks, bridges and utilities.
Although much of the media attention centres on aesthetics and passenger experience, the more substantial achievement lies in the technical complexity of constructing a greenfield airport of this scale.
It is the first such project in Australia in over 50 years, demanding integrated delivery across aviation, transport, and services systems from the ground up.
The terminal design, developed from a 2019 international competition won by COX Architecture and Zaha Hadid Architects, includes a climate-responsive façade and over 6,000 rooftop solar panels.
The building is designed for energy efficiency, with water harvesting and reuse infrastructure integrated to support irrigation, cooling and amenities.
Both domestic and international gates are located under one roof, aiming to reduce transfer times and passenger congestion.
Operationally, its proponents say the airport will deploy next-generation technologies to automate passenger processing and improve throughput.
The runway and associated airside infrastructure, including taxiways and aircraft stands, have been constructed to accommodate Code F aircraft, enabling operations of widebody long-haul jets such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.
The airport is also designed for 24-hour operation without curfews – an increasingly rare feature for major capital city airports.
While the main structure is complete, internal fit-out of retail spaces and airline lounges is still underway.
To date, over $500 million has been spent with Western Sydney-based businesses, and WSI claims that nearly 50 per cent of the workforce has been drawn from the region.
