Western Sydney Airport enters final construction stages ahead of 2026 opening

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport has reached 85 per cent construction completion and is on track for a late 2026 opening, with four airlines having now formalised route commitments and a domestic terminal fit-out expected to begin within weeks.

The airport, located at Badgerys Creek approximately 50 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, will open as a fully international-capable facility capable of handling 10 million passengers annually in its first stage, growing to 82 million by 2060 as demand from the rapidly growing Western Sydney population is met. The current Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is operating at near-maximum capacity and will not be able to accommodate growth in Sydney's international traffic without a second facility.

Federal transport minister Catherine King said airline interest in the new airport had exceeded government projections, with Qantas and Virgin Australia confirming domestic route launches at opening, while Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways had announced preliminary commitments to add Western Sydney to their Australian networks within the first two years of operation.

Western Sydney Airport Corporation chief executive Simon Hickey said the response from airlines reflected the strength of the Western Sydney catchment — home to more than two million residents — as a source of origin passengers. "Western Sydney travellers currently drive past multiple motorway interchanges to get to Kingsford Smith. This airport is on their doorstep," he said.

The Aerotropolis surrounding the airport is also advancing, with seven anchor tenant agreements signed for the precinct's business and freight zones, including a major parcel logistics hub and an aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.