News
26 October, 2026
New airport opens world of opportunities
Wollondilly deputy mayor Matthew Deeth never thought he would see the day. Cr Deeth was one of the guests at Sunday morning’s official opening of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
Wollondilly deputy mayor Matthew Deeth never thought he would see the day.
Cr Deeth was one of the guests at Sunday morning’s official opening of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
He said the airport would serve as the “engine room” of the nation’s economy with benefits felt across the Wollondilly including jobs and cheap flights.
He said it would open a “world of opportunity for our kids that we never knew”.
Sunday was Cr Deeth’s second visit to Australia’s newest international airport – but it was the first time he had seen it bustling with people and he told The Southern Wire he was both excited and impressed.
Cr Deeth acknowledged the airport would impact negatively on some people in the Wollondilly through aircraft noise.
He said Wollondilly Shire Council would continue to fight to ensure that people impacted by noise from WSI get the same treatment as those people impacted by noise from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (Mascot).
As reported by The Southern Wire, the Federal Government has a free WSI Noise Insulation Program with applications open until April 2028.
Residents of Silverdale and Wallacia can apply for free noise treatment in their homes – as can those in Luddenham, Greendale and Kemps Creek.
The airport was officially opened by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in front of a room full of distinguished guests – including descendants of pioneering aviator Nancy-Bird Walton, after whom it was named.
Politicians past and present attending the ceremony included Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King; Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen; Federal Opposition leader Angus Taylor; NSW Premier Chris Minns; NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car; NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Industry and Trade, Innovation, Science and Technology, Building and Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong; NSW Opposition leader Kellie Sloane; former Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison and former Federal Treasurer, Minister and Ambassador to the United States Joe Hockey.
Deputy Premier Prue Car – who is also the Minister for Education and Early Learning and the Minister for Western Sydney – told The Southern Wire that completion of the airport had been “a long time coming”.
She said everybody she had spoken to in the Western Sydney region was really excited.
She said the airport itself would provide thousands of new “good paying” jobs but more and more businesses would pop up in the surrounding area.
“We want our children to have jobs in Western Sydney,” she said.
Chair of the WSI’s Board of Directors, Paul O’Sullivan, described the new airport as a “stunning architectural achievement” that had been delivered safely, on time and on budget.
He said it was the result of “sustained commitment from three levels of government” over many years and had required both political leadership and community support.
He said Prime Minister Albanese had been a “steadfast and strong” champion of the project for more than 30 years.
“His unwavering support has been vital to the project.”
Mr O’Sullivan said the airport was a vital piece of infrastructure but its true value would be in the economic benefits and the human connections that it helps provide.
WSI chief executive officer Simon Hickey said it was difficult to predict exactly what impact the new airport would have but it would see “billions and billions of investment connecting west to the west and west to the rest”.
Mr Hickey said 10,000 people had worked on construction of the new airport while another 8500 would be required to operate it.
He said the economic and social opportunities would change lives and would enable communities to thrive.
Mr Hickey said Sunday’s official opening had delivered on the “hopes and visions of tireless advocates” but was also the first day of a bold beginning.
“Congratulations to everyone who dared to dream … this is your legacy.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King described Sunday’s official opening as an “extraordinary milestone” and an “extraordinary moment for Western Sydney”.
She described the airport itself as a piece of beautifully built architecture offering world-leading check-in and flights to 250 destinations around the world.
She said it would open new business and job opportunities for decades to come.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Sunday as a “great day for Western Sydney, a great day for NSW and a great day for Australia”.
He said it marked the end of a “long and remarkable journey” stretching back to the days of Ben Chifley who spoke of the need for a second airport in every capital city during his term as Prime Minister (1945-1949).
“It’s a project that hasn’t been rushed,” Mr Albanese said.
He described it as a “beautiful” structure and said Western Sydney would ‘explode’ economically now that it had been officially opened.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the new airport as “magnificent”.
He said the new airport – combined with the Powerhouse museum in Parramatta – would help bring Western Sydney alive.
He said the NSW Government would continue to push for completion of the new Sydney Metro - Western Sydney rail.
At this stage, the rail link is not expected to be completed until next year at the earliest.
· Keep reading The Southern Wire for more stories and photos from Sunday’s official opening.
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