New Western Sydney airport terminal unveiled as Air NZ signs up for 2027 flights

Sydney’s new 24-hour Nancy-Bird Walton Airport passenger terminal has been unveiled as major construction works wrap up.

The Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport unveiling ceremony was attended by WSI CEO Simon Hickey, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King and senior executives from Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Menzies Aviation and dnata Catering & Retail.

The terminal joins the list of completed projects such as a 3.7km-long runway and sites works like car parks, roads, bridges and utilities.

“This airport will drive economic growth, and turbocharge productivity,” PM Albanese says.

Hickey echoed that point.

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

King says the unveiling and major works completion is “a significant step”.

“This project is on time and on budget and gearing up to open in 2026,” she says.

Hickey last week explained that the new runway will reduce taxying times.

“Our runway will be equipped with modern technology and our rapid exit taxiways mean WSI’s average taxing time will be around five minutes, significantly shorter compared to other airports around the world,” he said then.

The runway’s lighting and technology systems were certified operational last October when a twin-engine Piper PA-30 Comanche aircraft completed multiple take-offs and landings.

BACKGROUND

According to the federal government, more than $500m has been spent with more than 360 Western Sydney businesses since construction started in 2017.

The federal government says 2000 workers were employed to ensure the domestic and international gates are housed under one roof and that the airport project created 11,650 fulltime jobs, more than half in the local area.

The new terminal has a climate-responsive facade with more than 6000 solar panels on its roof, and it will collect and recycle rainfall for use in airport operations.

The fit-out of its retail precinct and airline lounges will happen closer to the opening date.

The airport is on track to open in late 2026.

It is designed to cater for up to 10 million passengers annually with a target of 80 million-plus passengers which is comparable to Heathrow Airport in London today.

AUCKLAND-WEST SYDNEY SERVICE 

Air New Zealand is the second overseas air carrier to sign up for flights out of Nancy-Bird Walton Airport by operating an Auckland-WSI service sometime in mid-2027.

Singapore Airlines was the first overseas carrier to sign up.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says the new route will complement their services into Kingsford Smith Airport.

He says the airline’s twice-weekly Christchurch–Adelaide service takes off on October 27 and expects to add more capacity in their trans-Tasman growth strategy.

Hickey says the service will link one of Australia’s fastest growing regions to New Zealand’s largest city and main holiday gateway.

(The airline has just taken delivery of two new narrowbody Airbus A321neos from its factory in Hamburg, Germany, which will fly on its Australian and Pacific routes.)

NSW Jobs and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper says the route will be the first to be supported by the state government’s Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund.

“Sydney is the top overseas city of choice for Kiwis and this new direct connection to Western Sydney will unlock incredible opportunities for local tourism, business and jobs,” he says.

“The economics are very simple; if we want to grow our visitor economy, we need more visitors.

“I look forward to working with WSI to secure further new routes.”