Sydney’s new 24-hour airport is one step closer to welcoming its first passengers, with major construction works across Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) now complete.
Drawing on the region’s natural beauty, WSl’s new terminal marries sustainable-by-design principles and innovative technology to deliver a seamless experience for airlines and passengers at Australia’s first new greenfield international airport in more than 50 years.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey shared that works on the terminal had started in 2019, when a global competition was held to select project architects. London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and one of Australia’s top firms COX Architecture were picked to develop the initial design concepts of WSI.
The terminal design is emblematic of the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area as well as the Cumberland Plain and the region’s incredible First Nations culture and history.
“People will love spending time in this terminal as they enjoy the iconic vistas of the surrounding Blue Mountains that are reflected in our stunning feature ceiling and take in the thoughtful design and materials like the extensive use of beautiful sandstone that was sourced from a quarry on the Central Coast,” he said.
“Visitors will be welcomed by the stories of Dharug country that will connect the world with more than 60,000 years of Aboriginal culture while also highlighting the vibrant communities of Western Sydney.”
The terminal has a climate-responsive facade, and more than 6,000 solar panels affixed to its roof to provide energy efficiency and renewable electricity. In addition, it will collect and recycle rainfall for use in airport operations such as bathrooms, irrigation, and cooling towers.
Hickey added that WSI will provide Sydney with a 24-hour international gateway and offer passengers flying out of WSI a quick departure with the help of next generation technology. With both domestic and international gates located under one roof, travellers’ connections will also be simple and efficient.
WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and air cargo services in late 2026.
