Design & construction
The airfield is designed to minimise taxi times and prevent delays on the tarmac that can frustrate passengers and prove costly for airlines.
$15bn Western Sydney Airport 12
Sydneysiders, airlines and air cargo operators with an alternative – and he is confident they will choose the new kid on the block. “Western Sydney International is about growth and choice for customers,” says McCormack. “For the first time, Sydney will have a 24/7 airport, bringing it in line with major cities around the world and opening up the city to a new world of opportunities.” The new airport is located in the heart of Sydney’s fastest growing geographical zone. With the harbour providing a natural barrier to the east, Sydney’s core growth has expanded to the west, sprawling further and further away from the city centre. The airport figures prominently in government plans to improve access and opportunity in this area via the Western Sydney City Deal strategy, a 20-year vision to create a ‘22nd-century city’ that stands alone from the CBD. The airport’s development will pave the way for the so-called ‘Western Sydney Aerotropolis’, a vast commercial development designed to become a hub for aerospace, defence, manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors. The New South Wales (NSW) state government has sold the concept off the back of converting this infrastructure and investment not only into jobs, but also improvements in health and education, retail, hospitality and industrial activity in the area.
McCormack says the airport – like the city itself
In supporting infrastructure and investment from the Australian and NSW governments backing Western Sydney International.
– is all about embracing change. “When Western Sydney International opens, it will be the closest airport for more than 2.5 million people, meaning it will have the third-largest catchment of any Australian airport on day one,” he says. “The airport is set to grow in stages over decades, eventually becoming one of the largest gateways to Australia.” Western Sydney Airport will welcome ten million passengers each year until 2031. Incremental
increases will then see that figure grow to 80 million by 2063. McCormack says the project will also provide a platform for growth in Sydney’s aviation capacity over the coming decades, something he says is needed to ensure that Australia’s largest city is able to compete on the world stage. “Every aspect of Western Sydney International – from the integrated international and domestic passenger terminal to the airfield and air cargo hub – is being designed from the ground up with the customer front and centre,” he says. “Great design, sustainability, digital technology and data will come together to set a new benchmark for what passengers expect when they fly.” Flying from Western Sydney International will be fast, easy and seamless. “For airlines and air cargo operators, our modern, custom-built facilities, which have been designed with the input of our airline and air cargo MoU [memorandum of understanding] partners, will underpin operational efficiency and reliability,” McCormack. The airfield design will reduce taxi times and prevent delays on the tarmac that can be frustrating for passengers and costly for airlines.
As you would expect, technology also plays a key role. The airport will be the first in Sydney equipped with a modern CAT III-B runway, allowing aircraft to continue operating in foggy conditions that currently shut down Sydney’s skies. McCormack says this will give passengers and airlines confidence and certainty. It’s just one way, he says, that the airport is looking to solve problems that face passengers and airlines on a day-to-day basis. “We’ll put ourselves in our passengers’ shoes to understand the pain points that cause frustration at most airports and consider if technology can offer a solution,” he says, citing one of the most fundamental aspects of travel as an example.
“Our baggage handling system will use digital technology to track, load and move baggage faster and more reliably than at other airports. This modern and flexible system can be easily expanded to meet capacity demands and keep up with emerging technologies as the airport grows.”
Infrastructure backed by political capital
Considerable political will is behind the airport – and a not insignificant amount of public investment. Western Sydney International is backed by A$15bn in supporting infrastructure and investment jointly funded by the Australian government and its counterpart in NSW. That funding is designed to safeguard the efficient passage of travellers across the city, linking the airport to new and improved road and rail arteries, including a new metro link. The new A$11bn Sydney Metro train line linking the airport to the city centre and nearby residential
Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport
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