“The work to build our runway and supporting airside facilities has been years in the making – during which workers have literally moved mountains to create a modern, technology-enabled airfield that will soon welcome planes and passengers,” said WSI CEO Simon Hickey.
“Our runway will be equipped with modern technology and our rapid exit taxiways mean WSI’s average taxing time will be around five minutes, significantly shorter compared to other airports around the world, which will get people home and away faster.”
The 3.7km runway and its surrounds have also been fitted out with around 3,350 ground and approach lights.
“Part of our runway certification also involved a Piper PA-30 Twin Engine Comanche aircraft successfully completing multiple take offs and landings on our runway in October last year to ensure the lighting and technology systems were operating effectively,” said Hickey.
Since 2019, thousands of workers have logged millions of work hours to complete the runway.
Hickey indicated major construction is wrapping up at the airport site to allow for testing and live trials of the new infrastructure.
Western Sydney International will be Sydney’s only major airport without a curfew and will have capacity to service 10 million passengers a year from opening. By contrast, Sydney Airport at Mascot serviced 44 million passengers a year, pre-COVID.
WSI has ambitions to become Sydney’s busiest airport, handling 80 million passengers a year – the equivalent of London’s Heathrow today.
With the airport set to open in late 2026, Jetstar and Qantas have confirmed they will fly domestic routes into WSI, while Singapore Airlines committed to flying international services into the new airport in August last year.
Earlier this year, the state government and the airport launched a $16 million aviation fund, to incentivise airlines to add WSI to their landing ports.
