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FAQs

Top 5 FAQs

Ensuring our construction project is being a good neighbour to the communities around the Airport site is important to us.

If you have any questions about the construction project or any feedback, then call our 24/7 toll-free feedback line on 1800 972 972 .

The project is now in the major earthworks phase. If you’re interested in opportunities at the earthworks project, email our contractor CPB Lend Lease at WSAenquiries@cpblljv.com.au.

The construction project will ramp up to its peak construction phase between now and mid-2022, which is when we will be building the passenger terminal, runway, taxiways, office buildings, internal roads and other supporting infrastructure on the site. Peak construction is when we will have thousands of direct jobs on the site. 

Our local workforce targets mean that at least 30% of jobs during the construction phase will go to Western Sydney locals. When the airport opens, this will increase so that at a minimum of 50% of all jobs will go to Western Sydney locals.  

We’ll advertise jobs for the operating Airport closer to when it opens in 2026.  

As for jobs when the Airport opens in 2026, we’ll be advertising closer to the time. In the meantime any jobs at Western Sydney Airport, the organisation building the Airport, will be advertised at westernsydney.com.au/opportunities/careers

Work to build Western Sydney International is on track for the airport to open on time, at the end of 2026.  

Construction began in September 2018. 

The Western Sydney International site is massive – at 1,780 hectares it’s around twice the area of Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport. The difference between the highest and lowest points on the site is about the same as a 12-storey building. 

To build the terminal and runways, that huge area needs to be flat, so earthworks will take up most of the construction period. We also have very high safety and environmental standards, so we have to take enough time to ensure our workers, the community and the environment are protected. 

Flight paths are being developed by the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development – not by Western Sydney Airport.

Designing and finalising flight paths and airspace arrangements for Western Sydney International airport is a large and complex task that takes several years to complete. Before the airport opens in 2026, a comprehensive airspace planning and design process will be undertaken, with ongoing community engagement. 

The flight paths are being designed by a team of experts and overseen by an aviation Expert Steering Group. This team must take into account the airspace design principles required by the Western Sydney Airport Plan and develop flight paths based on maximising safety, efficiency and capacity, and minimising aircraft noise impacts on the community.

Before they are finalised, the proposed flight paths will be open for public consultation as part of the formal environmental assessment.

For more information about the flight path development process, visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development website.

Curfews and other aircraft movement restrictions are not common at airports around the world, in fact, they are put in as a last resort. For example, Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport has a curfew because it is surrounded by some of the most densely populated land in Australia and noise from aircraft taking off and landing at that airport can affect millions of people.

By contrast, the land around Western Sydney International has been protected from medium and high density development for decades, as the site has been planned as a likely location for a major airport for a long time. That means operations at Western Sydney International won’t have the potential to impact as many people.

In addition, flight paths for Western Sydney International will be designed by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development to minimise impacts on surrounding communities. The NSW Government is also planning the land around Western Sydney International, taking into account how to minimise noise impacts.

Operating without a curfew will help us unlock a new era of jobs and opportunities for Western Sydney. It will mean opportunities for airlines and new routes, including more affordable low cost carriers. It will also mean local growers and producers will be able to expand their businesses by becoming exporters, being able to get fresh produce quickly to lucrative markets in Asia overnight. Curfew-free operation means all this will flow on to create more jobs in Western Sydney.
 

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Now that initial concept designs have been completed, further detailed refinement will take place. We’ll be ramping up our engagement, consulting a wide range of government, airlines, industry and community stakeholders and local Aboriginal groups to further refine the designs and drill down on the details.

In early 2019, we launched an international design competition seeking expressions of interest to design the terminal at Sydney’s new airport. The objective was to create a terminal that would serve as a destination in itself and deliver great customer service. Sustainability was a key criteria, along with passenger experience, ensuring our customers have a reliable, fun and stress-free airport experience. Firms pitching for the project also had to outline how they plan to involve university students with a link to Western Sydney. 

Following a multi-stage evaluation, the winning design was from internationally renowned Zaha Hadid Architects and Australian firm Cox Architecture. The architectural team engaged with the local Dharug community as well as Western Sydney University students during the design development process. 

The terminal features stunning vertical gardens representing the Western Parkland City, creating a calm space with a sense of place and belonging. The curvature and lighting of the striking timber ceiling provides intuitive wayfinding through the terminal for passengers. The light filtration is inspired by the Australian bush, mimicking the experience of standing beneath a eucalyptus tree canopy.

Having two major airports in Sydney means that people will have a choice of where they want to fly from.

The interest from airlines in Western Sydney International has been very strong. We've already signed memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with the Qantas and Virgin Australia groups and we have more MOUs with major international airlines on the way. 

While connections to the Sydney CBD will be important, we're building an Airport for Western Sydney - so our first priority is to make sure it's connected to the immediate region. 

When the Airport first opens, anyone using Western Sydney International will be able to get to the Sydney CBD in a number of ways. You will be able to use the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail service to connect with Sydney's rail network at St Marys station to travel to the CBD. Express buses will connect to Parramatta and Liverpool, where you'll also be able to change to catch a train to the city. 

Western Sydney International will also have a direct motorway connection to its business park and passenger terminal. The toll-free M12 motorway will connect to Sydney's motorway network via the M7 motorway, which means road journeys from the Airport to Sydney's CBD can be exclusively by motorway. 

Growing in stages and over decades, Western Sydney International is set to become Sydney's primary airport around 2060. This means that before then, direct rail access to all parts of Sydney from the Airport will be vital.  

Local roads around the Western Sydney International site are being upgraded so they can cater for the increase in vehicles that the Airport and surrounding precinct will generate. There’s even a brand new motorway, the M12, being built to the Airport’s front door from the M7 motorway. The NSW Government has committed to the M12 being toll-free.
 

The Australian Government established a government-owned corporation, Western Sydney Airport, to build and operate Western Sydney International. 

The organisation is overseen by experienced leaders with diverse experience across business, airport development and city-shaping infrastructure, who are responsible for ensuring the project meets the regulatory requirements, as well as delivering an airport the people of Western Sydney will be proud of.   As a government-owned corporation, Western Sydney Airport reports to two Federal Government departments, ensuring there is official oversight along with a responsible and transparent approach.

Aircraft need to take off and land into the wind. Airports that have cross runways are in areas with variable wind conditions, so they can keep operating, even if the wind direction changes. 

Wind conditions at the Western Sydney International site have been observed over several decades and have been found to be far more predictable. Generally they vary much less, which means aircraft will be able to land in the vast majority of local wind conditions, so we don’t need a cross runway. 

However there are plans to build a second parallel runway around the 2050s, when the Airport grows and there is increased demand. Until then, one runway is all Western Sydney International needs. 

We’re building an airport for Western Sydney, so we’re committed to ensuring we create local jobs and business opportunities. Building Western Sydney International will create thousands of jobs and there will be even more when the Airport is operating.

As of 30 June 2020, 51% of the Airport's workforce were from Western Sydney - that's much higher than our minimum target of at least 30% of construction jobs going to people who live in Western Sydney.

The minimum local employment target increases to 50% of jobs when Western Sydney International opens.

We also guarantee at least 20 per cent of jobs for apprentices, trainees and other learning workers. 


 

We’re excited to have signed MOUs with the Qantas and Virgin Australia groups and have more on the way with other Australian and overseas airlines.

Under the MOUs we’ve started early discussions about potential routes for Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia services from Western Sydney International. We’re also drawing on their experience and insights to design an airport that passengers love using and that offers airlines efficiency and reliability.

Our airline MOUs are a huge vote of confidence in Western Sydney International from Australia’s biggest airlines and we'll have more airline partnerships to announce soon.
 

The Blue Mountains received World Heritage Status in 2000, when plans for Western Sydney International were well advanced, which means the status was awarded knowing that the Airport was likely to be built. The Australian Government is continuing to keep UNESCO informed about the Airport’s development and potential impacts. At this stage there is no suggestion that the Airport will impact the Blue Mountain’s status.