Western Sydney International Airport launches 24‑hour cargo precinct

Western Sydney International (Nancy‑Bird Walton) Airport began operations of its 24‑hour cargo precinct, with the first commercial freight flight— a Qantas plane carrying Australia Post parcels—taking off on the night of its launch. The facility can initially handle about a quarter‑million tonnes of freight per year and is designed to expand to up to 1.8 million tonnes, accommodating eight wide‑body freighters or 16 narrow‑body freighters simultaneously.

Partners at the new hub include Qantas Freight, Menzies Aviation, dnata Cargo, dnata Catering & Retail and Texel Air. Federal ministers highlighted the precinct’s role in boosting supply‑chain resilience, creating roughly 12,800 jobs and attracting more than A$500 million in investment for local businesses. The airport is also set to begin passenger services on 25 October, with Jetstar’s inaugural flight to the Gold Coast.