The entire WSI project has created 11,650 annual full-time equivalent jobs, over half of which have come from the local area.

In a public media release, Catherine King MP, Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, announced major construction works across Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) have been completed, as the state-of-the-art terminal was formally unveiled on June 11, 2025.

Completion of the terminal joins the recent completion of the Airside package of works, including the 3.7km runway, and the landside package of works, including the carparks, roads, bridges and utilities.

With major construction now finished, WSI will move on with testing the systems and preparing for airport operations to get ready for passengers and freight in the lead up to its opening in 2026.

More than 2,000 workers expended around nine million hours creating the terminal, which will house both domestic and international gates under one roof to enable fast connections.

“Today marks a significant step in the history of Western Sydney International with the unveiling of the terminal and completion of major works. This project is on time and on budget and gearing up to open in 2026. Western Sydney International will shape this region and greater Sydney for decades to come – providing jobs, boosting the productivity of our supply chains, and connecting a greater portion of our population with the rest of the world,” said King.

More than AUS$500m has also been invested in more than 360 Western Sydney based businesses since the start of WSI’s construction in 2017, including local tradespeople, construction companies, caterers, and security guards.

The Australian Government is investing AUS$19bn into infrastructure projects in Western Sydney, including AUS$2.3bn committed in its 2025-26 Budget.

These investments ensure that the airport, and the businesses in Western Sydney, will have the infrastructure they need on day one of the airport opening, and that the road and rail connections required for the future continue to grow with the airport.

While major construction of the WSI terminal is complete, the fit-out of the terminal’s retail precinct and airline lounges will take place closer to the airport’s opening as commercial tenders and final contracts continue to progress over the months ahead.

WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and air cargo services in late 2026.

Anthony Albanese, Australian Prime Minister, said of the unveiled terminal: “When we talk about Building Australia’s Future, I think about Western Sydney International Airport. I think about the vision, persistence, and cooperation that has led us here to this milestone. I think about the jobs and opportunity that this project has delivered, and will deliver for Sydney and for Australia. This airport will drive economic growth, and turbocharge productivity.”

WIS lands Air New Zealand

In related news, WSI has landed its second international airline today, with Air New Zealand signalling its intent to operate services to the new airport.

Air New Zealand joins Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar (domestic) as one of four carriers now signed on to operate from Sydney’s new 24-hour airport.

The move is supported by the New South Wales (NSW) Government and WSI’s joint Western Sydney Take Off Fund, which incentivises international airlines to fly into the airport ahead of its opening in late 2026.

The AUS$16m Destination NSW-managed Take-Off Fund is made up of AUS$8 from the NSW Government and matched by WSI and is forecast to deliver over 162,000 international visitors to NSW and generate an estimated $530m in visitor expenditure.

The airline’s first route will connect Auckland and Western Sydney, opening a new gateway between Aotearoa, New Zealand and one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.

Australia and New Zealand are each other’s largest visitor markets, with over 1.3 million Australians and New Zealanders travelling each way in the year to March 2025.

In 2024, New Zealand tourism contributed AUS$2.1bn to the Australia economy. 

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