QANTAS Group and Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) have strengthened their partnership, with Qantas Freight the first freight airline to operate at its new 24-hour cargo precinct.
The precinct is expected to increase Sydney’s air cargo capacity by up to 33% upon opening, and provide access to growing freight and logistics centres at Kemps Creek and Aerotropolis.
WSI says Qantas will support the movement of diverse range of goods as part of its cargo operation in the precinct, which will have an overall footprint of approximately 24,000 square metres, including up to 14,000 square metres of warehousing.
The hub will reportedly be capable of facilitating Qantas’ transformed freighter fleet of upgraded Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft.
The airport says construction of the precinct began earlier this year and is on track for cargo operations to commence in 2026.
The precinct, WSI says, will include up to 75,000 square metres of total warehousing and be capable of servicing eight wide-body aircraft at any one time.
Qantas international and freight CEO Cam Wallace said the new air freight facility in Western Sydney will help Qantas Freight meet the growing demand for e-commerce from its customers and complement its existing operations in the Sydney basin and nationally.
“Western Sydney International Airport has some big strategic advantages for freight operations particularly with overnight flights which will help ensure parcels and other critical freight can be delivered around Australia as quickly as possible,” Mr Wallace said.
“We are in the process of renewing and growing our fleet of air freighters, with the newer aircraft that will fly out of Western Sydney quieter and more sustainable than older models.”
WSI CEO Simon Hickey commented, “We’re pleased to welcome Qantas Freight as the first freight airline to operate at Sydney’s new, integrated Cargo Precinct that will enable direct connectivity between freighters, the terminal and road transport”.
“These operational efficiencies, coupled with the deep strategic advantages of our 24-hour operations and key east coast location will provide unparallelled opportunities for farmers, manufacturers and other exporters to grow their businesses through premium cargo operators like Qantas Freight.”
Mr Hickey says the cargo precinct is expected to support of to 2000 jobs during construction and more than 19,000 direct and indirect jobs across the precinct and connected supply chains each year upon opening.
