Western Sydney's new airport opens after decades of delay

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

Australia's first new international airport in 30 years, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, opens on Sunday.

Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens on Sunday after decades of delays and disagreements. The facility was selected as a potential site in the 1980s before federal and state-level indecision held up progress. Twelve years ago, Tony Abbott's Liberal government officially confirmed Badgerys Creek as the location, and the project was ultimately completed on budget and ahead of schedule.

The airport is designed to handle up to 10 million passengers annually and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with no curfew. It features tentiform ceilings and expansive mountain views, with tarmac already in use by cargo jets.

Rico Merkert, head of international business, logistics and supply chains at the University of Sydney, says the airport could take 10 years to become profitable. He notes that population growth, improved transport connections and continued private investment in the surrounding region will be crucial to making the $5.3 billion public project commercially viable. He warns that a recession, changing attitudes to immigration, competition from nearby freight hubs or a failure to attract passengers could leave taxpayers supporting the airport longer than expected. 'Currently, it's probably not profitable … they will require subsidies,' Dr Merkert says.

How it is being reported

• Runways to riches? Western Sydney's billion-dollar betAustralia's first new international airport in 30 years is ready to take flight but now shoulders the weight of great economic promises built around it.The West Australian · 23 Oct, 21:03
• Runways to riches? Western Sydney's billion-dollar betAustralia's first new international airport in 30 years is ready to take flight but now shoulders the weight of great economic promises built around it.Perth Now · 23 Oct, 21:03

In this story: Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport · Sydney · Rico Merkert · University of Sydney · Tony Abbott

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