Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport has revealed it is exceeding its local employment target two years into the project, with 54 percent of the workforce building Sydney’s new airport from the local community.

Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Simon Hickey said more than half of the airport team are from Western Sydney, almost double the construction phase target of 30 per cent.

“Western Sydney International is being built to be a catalyst for jobs and opportunities in Sydney’s west, so we’re proud that just over two years into the seven-year build, more than half of the team are local,” Mr Hickey said.

Mr Hickey said the project was still in the earthworks phase, moving more than 25 million cubic metres of earth to prepare the site for terminal, runway and other civil infrastructure construction, including internal roads, utilities and supporting buildings.

“With terminal construction due to begin by the start of 2022 and the runway soon after, in around two years we’ll be at peak construction, with thousands of people working directly on the site,” he said.

“The flow-on benefits mean that more jobs will be created so that businesses of all sizes, including small to medium local businesses, can service and supply this massive project.

“Once the airport is operating, it will mean jobs of all kinds from ground crew, customer service and retail, as well as jobs at the myriad of employers in the on-airport business park and cargo facility.

“It’s an exciting time for Western Sydney and it’s great that the airport will be an important part of its growth.”

Mr Hickey said on top of jobs at the airport itself, it will be a catalyst for higher quality employment locally in Western Sydney, meaning fewer people will have to sacrifice three hours a day commuting to work in the east.

“The generational impact Western Sydney International will have on this region is yet to be fully realised,” he said.

Work to build Western Sydney International is on schedule for the airport to open to international and domestic passenger and air cargo services in late 2026.

Western Sydney International has been designed to grow and expand with demand, in stages and over decades, eventually catering for 82 million passengers a year in the 2060s – comparable to Dubai, Heathrow or JFK today – it will become the biggest gateway to Australia.

The design is thoughtful, with consideration to how tomorrow’s technology will come together with great design, intuitive wayfinding and dedicated customer service to create a fast and easy experience for passengers and airlines.

Western Sydney International will proudly be the beating heart of a thriving and vibrant precinct supporting growth and prosperity, stimulating new business and investment, and enhancing our state’s, and Western Sydney’s offering on a global scale.

Click here to learn more about Western Sydney Airport.