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Each aerobridge can service either two narrow body aircraft or one wide body aircraft at a time and will be automated
It’s almost, almost ready.
You may not realise it, but right now, 3,500 workers are putting the finishing touches to Western Sydney International, the first new major airport in Australia in a generation.
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When it opens in 2026, WSI will be capable of welcoming 5 million passengers, but that will double to 10 million by 2031 and then rocket to 80 million by 2063. To put those figures in context, that’s almost twice as many as the regular Sydney Airport today, and comparable to global behemoths such as London’s Heathrow and Hong Kong.
After being given a guided tour around the building site on a chilly winter afternoon, it’s amazing how much of an airport it already feels like. The departure gates tower over the apron, the flooring is being laid at check in and construction workers are already whizzing fake luggage through the baggage carousel. Surrounding infrastructure is also proceeding, with tunnels almost complete for the metro line and the sod turned for the business precinct in April. Plans have also been unveiled for the nearby Bradfield “aerotropolis”, which will include 10,000 new homes. Currently, the federal government estimates the initial terminal and runway complex is around 80 per cent complete, but that, if anything, seems like an underestimation.
When it finally opens, the terminal will feature all manner of snazzy design innovation that will make it one of the most advanced airports in the world. “High-performance glass” promises to keep the building cool in the summer; the recently completed roof features more than 6,000 solar panels to power the airport while the terminal itself has been designed to provide unparalleled views of the Blue Mountains. Perhaps, most impressively, domestic and international customers will check in at the very same spot, while every part of the new terminal is designed to get passengers on their way as quickly as possible.
Here, Australian Aviation presents the best behind-the-scenes shots.
