The roof is now on the airport’s terminal, weatherproofing the building so internal fit out can accelerate.
“We’re pleased to unveil the latest progress of Western Sydney International Airport to the world and give passengers, airlines and businesses a sneak peek of what to expect when we open in just two and a half years’ time,” said the airport’s CEO Simon Hickey.
“With less than 20 per cent of the airport build remaining, we’re really getting to the pointy end of construction and getting a strong sense of the terrific experience our customers will enjoy when they catch their first flight in 2026.”
Around 100 workers have been involved with roof construction over the last year and a half. The roof is 44,000m2 and is supported by a lot of Australian steel – there are 40km of Australian steel beams in the roof in addition to 3,500 tonnes of steelwork in the structure, with most of it fabricated in Adelaide and regional Australia.
The roof will also be home to over 6,000 solar panels which will help power the airport.
Western Sydney International Airport – also known as the Nancy-Bird Walton Airport – is expected to begin operating with no curfew in late 2026, with capacity to service 10 million passengers a year.
It is expected to service 80 million passengers a year by 2063.
There have been various forums this year discussing the opportunities the airport will bring to Western Sydney, with BESydney’s chief, Lyn Lewis-Smith flagging the incentive opportunity.
However, these forums have also included calls for more accommodation and attractions in Western Sydney, while some attendees have raised concerns that Western Sydney isn’t ready for the airport yet, despite it being under 900 days from opening.
