Terminal, airside, and landside packages at major Australian airport are completed nearly seven months early and on budget.
Bechtel, serving as delivery partner, has successfully managed the design and construction of the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), delivering the megaproject almost seven months early and within its AU$5.3bn (US$3.5bn) budget on behalf of the Australian government.
This key milestone positions WSI to commence passenger and cargo flights in late 2026, welcoming up to ten million passengers per year in its initial phase. The project is Australia’s first international, greenfield airport in over 50 years and has been a catalyst for economic development. The entire WSI project has created 11,650 annual full-time equivalent jobs, with over half coming from the local area. The hub will drive growth in Western Sydney’s visitor economy and is projected to increase Australia’s GDP by AU$23.9bn by 2060.
“We celebrate this major construction milestone alongside our customer, contractors, and the Western Sydney community,” said Darren Mort, president of Bechtel’s infrastructure business. “Together, we have built an airport that will inspire regional pride and drive economic growth in Western Sydney for generations to come. This project epitomises the schedule and budget benefits that come with a fit-for-purpose delivery model with clear roles and accountability. We are proud to have delivered value and a positive social impact for taxpayers, and we look forward to supporting WSI as it prepares to welcome passengers next year,” said Mort.
Jim Tragotsalos, Western Sydney International Airport’s executive general manager for airport infrastructure, said: “Bringing Bechtel in as our delivery partner was important to our success and a testament to the strong partnerships that were created. 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. And it also meant we could resolve issues early, which is always critical on projects of this scale. Bechtel’s aviation and megaproject experience has added value at every stage, enabling our successful delivery of this construction project early and within budget.”
Since 2018, Bechtel has been working on the WSI project with the responsibility to support the procurement and management of top-tier contractors delivering construction packages, including earthworks, terminal, runway, landside, and technology, totaling AU$5.3bn (US$3.5bn). Bechtel managed the budget and contracts, and strategically sequenced work to improve the schedule and maximise value.
Designed for long-term growth, WSI is expected to become Australia’s largest international gateway by 2063. With future expansion and the addition of a second runway and eventual fourth terminal, the airport could handle over 80 million passengers annually, on par with global hubs like Hong Kong International and London Heathrow airports. Triggered by the airport development, the New South Wales state government is building new infrastructure, including a dedicated airport metro line to enable improved transport infrastructure for the surrounding communities.
Bechtel continues to support WSI with ongoing work required to prepare the airport for opening, ahead of the operational readiness and airport transfer program beginning later this year. This includes the build-out of retail spaces and extensive testing of facilities to ensure a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable passenger experience at Australia’s newest and most advanced gateway.
