The Qantas Group and Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) have strengthened their strategic partnership, with Qantas Freight signing on as the airport’s first freight airline to operate at its 24-hour Cargo Precinct.

The precinct will increase Sydney’s air cargo capacity by around 33 per cent upon opening and provide dedicated access via the upgraded Northern Road and proximity to growing freight and logistics centres at Kemps Creek and the Aerotropolis.

As the nation’s leading air freight carrier, Qantas will support the movement of a 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 about 14,000 square metres of warehousing.

Terminal facility design and sophisticated materials handling equipment will also ensure seamless handling processes for international imports and express domestic products.

The hub will be capable of facilitating Qantas’ transformed freighter fleet of new and upgraded Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft.

Construction of the precinct – which will include up to 75,000 square metres of total warehousing and be capable of servicing eight wide-body aircraft at any one time – began earlier this year and remains on track for cargo operations to commence in late 2026.

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 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.”

WSI CEO Simon Hickey says, “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.

 “Western Sydney International Airport continues to create high-value job opportunities for locals, with the Cargo Precinct expected to support up to 2,000 jobs during construction and more than 19,000 direct and indirect jobs across the precinct and connected supply chains, upon opening, each year.”