New Flight Paths See GWS Set for Take-off
News that preliminary flight paths for Western Sydney International Airport have been set is welcomed by the region’s leading advocacy group, as the countdown to take-off continues.
Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto, said the landmark project is now another step closer to opening up the West to the world.
“This flight path and airspace announcement by Minister Catherine King is an important milestone that sees the city’s only 24-hour airport set for take-off in 2026,” Mr Leto said.
“This is the nation’s biggest infrastructure investment and one that will deliver enormous economic benefits for the region, create thousands of new jobs and transform the West into a global gateway.
“This decision follows months of community and industry consultation, and we are pleased that noise and environmental impacts have been carefully considered when determining the airspace and flightpaths.”
The flight path determination comes as WSI announces that construction of the first major piece of Sydney’s 24-hour airport is complete, with the runway and key airside facilities finalised.
WSI is on track to open for domestic, international and cargo services in late 2026, with plans in place for it to become Sydney’s biggest international airport, handling more than 80 million annual passengers, equivalent to London’s Heathrow airport.
Mr Leto said the opening of the airport will be a “gamechanger” for the region, which is why the Dialogue is spearheading the Take Flight 2026 airport readiness campaign.
“WSI will be ready to cater for up to 10 million passengers a year from day one of operations. To ensure Western Sydney can welcome visitors landing on our doorstep from late next year, we need to leverage the region’s unique characteristics and build on its existing assets and strengths,” Mr Leto said.
“Western Sydney needs to be ready to welcome the world, but we only have a small window of opportunity to get the red carpet ready so that visitors stay, play and spend in the West.”