Western Sydney’s 24-hour airport completes runway as countdown to 2026 opening gathers pace

Construction of the first major piece of Sydney’s 24‑hour airport is now complete, with Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport’s runway and key airside facilities officially finalised. As the countdown to opening continues, WSI CEO Simon Hickey said this significant milestone demonstrates the rapid pace of progress as major construction wraps up to allow testing and live trials across the precinct.

Sydney Airport prepares to become a major international hub with cutting-edge infrastructure and rapid passenger turnaround.

“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 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.”

Millions of work hours have gone into this critical piece of infrastructure, with thousands of workers contributing since the bulk earthworks contract was awarded in 2019. “The site has been transformed to build our 3.7km runway, equipped with approximately 3,000 aeronautical ground lights and 348 high‑intensity approach lights, which will cater for up to 10 million annual passengers from day one of operations next year,” Hickey added.

Part of runway certification also involved a Piper PA‑30 Twin Engine Comanche aircraft completing multiple take‑offs and landings on the runway in October last year, ensuring lighting and technology systems operated effectively.

The Airside Civil and Pavement Works package (ACP), led by the CPB Contractors/ACCIONA Joint Venture and overseen by delivery partner Bechtel, included the design and construction of taxiway pavements, pavement markings, airside roads, drainage, security fencing, and landscaping. CPB Project Director Christian Byrne said: “Successful delivery required millions of tonnes of high‑quality, high‑strength quarry materials… to construct the aviation pavements to strict specifications… We developed and delivered an Australian‑first paving methodology of ‘true‑slip forming’ the concrete aircraft pavements – improving productivity and safety as well.”

WSI is on track to open for domestic, international, and cargo services in late 2026. Designed for growth, the airport will eventually become Sydney’s largest international gateway, handling over 80 million passengers annually, on par with London’s Heathrow today.

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