Billed as Australia’s first international, greenfield airport in over 50 years, WSI lies some 40km west of Sydney’s central business district in the formerly rural suburb of Badgery’s Creek, now styled as ‘Aerotropolis’
The airport, featuring a 3.7 km runway, is designed to handle 10 million passengers annually upon opening. Managed by WSA Co, a company established by the Australian government, WSI is planned to become Australia’s largest international gateway by 2063, with capacity for 80 million passengers yearly through additional runways and terminals. This will surpass the capacity of Sydney’s existing Botany Bay airport, which faces expansion constraints. The project is expected to contribute US$15.6 billion to Australia’s GDP by 2060 and anchor urban development in Western Sydney, including a 23 km Sydney Metro extension to the airport and the new city of Bradfield, under construction since 2021.
Bechtel collaborated with top-tier contractors for various project components. Multiplex completed the terminal in June 2025, with a design by Woods Bagot emphasizing energy efficiency through natural light, airflow, shading, and a solar-powered, rainwater-harvesting roof. Concept design was provided by Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture. A joint venture of CBP Contractors and Acciona handled earthworks and airside packages, moving 26 million cubic meters of soil, including 5.5 million tonnes of sandstone from Sydney tunneling projects for the runway and roads. Notably, 98% of captured water was reused for construction, irrigation, and dust suppression. The project also included 90 km of power and fiber optic cables and over 3,000 aviation lights.
BMD Constructions and Seymour Whyte delivered landside infrastructure, including roads, bridges, car parks, utilities, and connections to the Sydney Metro and M12 motorway. DXC Technology integrated over 60 software platforms for check-in, security, retail, and office systems. Darren Mort, Bechtel’s infrastructure president, stated: “This project epitomises the schedule and budget benefits that come with a fit-for-purpose delivery model with clear roles and accountability.” Jim Tragotsalos, WSI’s executive general manager for infrastructure, added: “It meant we could confidently go about establishing WSI as a company to operate the airport knowing that together with Bechtel as our delivery partner, we had experts with hands-on experience to help us navigate the construction complexities, manage schedules and budgets, and set up contractors for success.”
The project’s efficient delivery model enabled early issue resolution, ensuring the airport’s readiness to support economic growth and sustainable infrastructure in Western Sydney.
