Western Sydney International Airport

A New Era of Connectivity and Economic Growth

Delivered after eight years of construction, Australia’s newest and best 24-7 airport is a world-leading, modern facility putting people at the centre of its design and using the latest technology to enhance the customer experience. WSI can accommodate up to 10 million passengers annually and has been designed with the future in mind, with staged expansion over the coming decades to include four terminals, a second runway and capacity for 82 million passengers annually by the 2060s.

This transformative public infrastructure project boosts Sydney’s long-term aviation capacity and it is projected to increase Australia’s GDP by AU$23.9 billion by 2060.

During construction, the airport was a driving force behind Western Sydney’s economic development, creating business opportunities and 11,650 annual full-time equivalent jobs, with over half coming from the local area. More than AU$500 million of construction spend was spent with 360 local Western Sydney businesses.

The community also benefits from improved connectivity via a new metro line and toll-free motorway, and quality jobs created closer to home through a new on-airport business park.

Following the ahead-of-schedule and on-budget completion of construction, Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) commenced cargo operations in July 2026, followed by international and domestic passenger flights in October 2026.

Partnering to Build History

Bechtel was awarded the Project Definition Manager and Delivery Partner contracts in 2018, and our team of aviation, construction, engineering and project experts successfully managed the delivery of all five main works packages: earthworks, airside, terminal, landside and technology – almost seven months early.

Our team developed and implemented a comprehensive project management plan, supported by systems, policies and processes that provided a consistent framework throughout delivery. This approach contributed to the commencement of commercial operations ahead of schedule. Learn about Bechtel’s Delivery Partner Model.

This once-in-a-generation project engaged local people from a diverse range of backgrounds played a significant role in its creation. During construction, at least 50% of the project team came from the surrounding areas and more than 30% of the team came from a diverse background, exceeding the 10% project target.

Bechtel team members host First Nations students for a tour of the Western Sydney Airport (WSA) project.

Bechtel’s integrated team of global and local experts supported Western Sydney Airport Corporation (WSA) throughout design through to airport opening in 2026.

Our experience delivering some of the world’s most complex and innovative aviation projects — both greenfield and brownfield — has added value at every stage of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of this iconic public infrastructure project.

We continue to support the airport by managing delivery of additional airport estate facilities required by Australian government agencies and due for completion in 2027.

During construction we applied a data-centric project delivery approach to address the new airport’s current and future needs, that will change as it grows, to accommodate greater demand and support advances in technology in the coming decades. We leveraged Building Information Management (BIM) technology for design, engineering and project management incorporating a comprehensive drone program for surveillance and progress checks that make the project safer and more time and cost efficient. WSI hosts the most up-to-date technology that is enabling a streamlined experience for customers, staff, airline partners and aviation-related functions – made possible by the development integration of more than 60 unique software systems across the 1780-hectare airport estate.