A future brimming with opportunities as part of the region’s rapid and exciting transformation.
That was the key message from Simon Hickey (above), CEO of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), during a speech at the Business Western Sydney ‘Preparing for Take Off’ Aerotropolis Conference.
Mr Hickey said some 3,900 workers are helping to bring WSI to life each day and around half of those workers hale from Western Sydney. More than half a billion dollars have been invested in around 360 Western Sydney businesses since construction began.
“These businesses, these workers – one day soon they’ll catch a flight from WSI and get to tell their kids “I helped build that” – and they can all be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved and what it will mean for the millions of Australians who’ll use this airport over the decades to come,” he said.
“Right now, there’s a young person sitting in a primary school in Liverpool, or perhaps they’re in Penrith or Campbelltown, who can dream bigger and bolder than what their parents or grandparents could ever have imagined.
“They can aspire to a career in aviation or agriculture, advanced manufacturing, science or technology, travel or tourism, space, freight or maybe defence industries – more than I can list.
“And those aspirations are very much within their grasp, because they’re unfolding within their own backyard.”
Mr Hickey said WSI’s terminal was now watertight with 13 glass aerobridges installed and the internal fit out coming along at pace.
Carparks, internal road network and bridges are taking shape and soon they’ll be cutting the ribbon on the Airport Operational Control Centre – the future nerve centre of WSI.
“The final touches on our 3.7km runway have taken place, with line marking, grooving and the installation of our aeronautical ground lights all complete.
“What followed was one for the history books, with the start of October seeing the touchdown of our very first aircraft at WSI, which tested our runway’s lighting and technology systems in different conditions.”
Singapore Airlines was recently announced as the first international carrier to use the new airport, which is scheduled to open in 2026 and service 10 million passengers a year.
