Qantas the latest to sign up for Western Sydney’s cargo precinct
02 / 10 / 2024
Source: Western Sydney International
Qantas has joined Menzies and signed up to take a facility at the new Cargo Precint area being developed at Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport.
The Qantas facility at the precinct will measure 24,000 sq m and include around 14,000 sq m of warehousing. The hub will be capable of handling Qantas’ freighter fleet of Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft.
Qantas International and Freight chief executive Cam Wallace said: “The new airfreight facility in Western Sydney will help Qantas Freight meet the growing demand for e-commerce from our customers and will complement our 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.
“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.”
The Cargo Precinct will operate 24 hours a day and increase cargo capacity at the airport by around 33% when it opens in late 2026.
It will offer a total of 75,000 sq m of warehousing and will be able to cater for eight widebody aircraft at any one time.
Earlier this week, Menzies announced that it would be taking a 22,500 sq m facility at the new development.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said: “We’re pleased to welcome two top-tier operators, Qantas Freight and Menzies, to Sydney’s new, integrated Cargo Precinct that will enable direct connectivity between freighters, the terminal and road transport,” he said.
“Qantas Group is our first freight airline to sign up to our 24-hour Cargo Precinct, which will provide unparallelled opportunities for farmers, manufacturers and other exporters to grow their businesses.
“We’re already responding to growing market demands, including significant spikes in e-commerce purchases initially prompted by changing spending habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, by increasing the airport’s opening air cargo capacity.
“We’ve secured external financing of $805.4m to develop the infrastructure for a stand-alone future-proof Cargo Precinct and our Business Precinct to meet business and customer needs now and for decades to come.
“This additional funding will support the development of roadways, taxiways and buildings to maximise the value of the airport over the long term. In turn, this will deliver more socio-economic benefits like jobs for the people of Western Sydney and beyond, and a greater financial return for all Australian taxpayers.”
