Western Sydney Airport CEO to headline Australian Aviation Summit

Simon Hickey will participate in a fireside chat to discuss the airport’s progress ahead of its planned opening in late 2026, with the audience able to ask questions.

WSI’s launch will herald the biggest shakeup to Australia’s airport sector in a generation as it plans to eventually become NSW’s biggest international gateway and the heartbeat of a new economic centre for the city.

“This will be a fantastic chance for the industry to find out more about Western Sydney Airport – how it’s going, what it will offer once it opens, and what’s next,” said Australian Aviation editor Adam Thorn.

“Simon Hickey is a great addition to what is already a deep bench of speakers and panellists at Australia’s premier aviation conference, and we hope to see as many guests as possible in August.”

The Australian Aviation Summit, supported by Principal Partner Leidos, will be held on Thursday, 29 August, at The Star in Sydney. To find out more and buy tickets, click here.

Construction began on WSI’s terminal in 2021, with runway works commencing the following year.

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It will be accompanied by a business park and a nearby “aerotropolis” residential and commercial district, with a link to St Marys train station via a newly built metro line.

The airport recently hit a major milestone with the completion of the terminal roof, which will allow work on internal fit-outs to accelerate over the coming months.

It will be the first aerodrome in Australia designed for digital aerodrome services (DAS) – a “digital control tower” that will operate remotely using cameras and sensors.

Last year, Qantas Group announced that Qantas and Jetstar would be the first two airlines to operate from WSI when it opens.

Unlike Sydney Airport, which is restricted by an overnight curfew, WSI will operate 24/7, offering more capacity for both domestic and international flights.

The inaugural Australian Aviation Summit will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts for an unparalleled exchange of new ideas through keynote addresses and panel sessions.

As the aviation industry navigates a post-COVID pandemic world, discussing these issues in this public forum is vital.

Other high-profile speakers include Virgin Australia’s head of fuel and aviation decarbonisation, Daniel Dott, Google Wing’s Jesse Suskin, Australia’s first female airliner pilot, Deborah Lawrie and Airservices’ Australia’s interim CEO, Rob Sharp.

The summit is a platform for networking, collaboration, and education as the industry’s best and brightest share their insights on industry trends, regulatory updates, technological developments, future trajectory, opportunities and challenges, and strategies to propel the domestic aviation sector to new heights.

The Australian Aviation Summit will be held on Thursday, 29 August, at The Star, Sydney.

Click here to book your tickets, and don’t miss out.

For more information, including agenda and speakers, click here.

This summit is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at [email protected]