up, up and away at Western Sydney

WESTERN Sydney Airport has granted the contract to design and build its airfield to a joint venture between CBP Contractors and Acciona, with construction of the 3.7km runway and “rapid-exit taxiways” to start next year.

CEO Simon Hickey highlighted the efficiency of the design (pictured), which would use the latest technology to reduce taxi times and tarmac delays which are frustrating for passengers and costly for airlines.

“Our airfield’s design means we’ll safely get planes in the air or to the gates faster,” he said.

The long runway will allow Western Sydney International (WSI) to handle the full range of commercial aircraft, including the new generation of ultra long-haul airlines such as the Airbus A3501000 and Boeing 777X.

Hickey noted that WSI would also be the only airport in Sydney equipped with a CAT III-B instrument landing system, allowing it to continue operating safely in foggy conditions which currently forces the closure of the city’s skies.

Crushed sandstone from current tunnelling projects across Sydney will be reused to support the construction of the runway, taxiways and roads, with the project including more than 40km of roadway and 3,000 aeronautical ground lights.

Hickey said WSI was on track to open to international, domestic and air cargo services in late 2026.

More renders and images of construction progress at WSI are at facebook.com/traveldaily.