Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has officially started its commercial freight flight operations with aircraft set to take off today.
Freighters will take off from the airport’s 24-hour Cargo Precinct.
Stage one of the Precinct is capable of catering eight 747 or 777 freighters or 16 737 or A320 domestic freighters, simultaneously.
“Air freight underpins many of NSW’s highest-value industries including fresh meat and seafood, pharmaceuticals, agricultural exports, electronics, advanced manufacturing and more,” WSI chief executive officer Simon Hickey said.
“Fish caught in Forster can be served fresh at a restaurant in Singapore the next day, or that patients in the Pacific will benefit from access to critical but perishable medicines, while consumers across Sydney will also receive their coveted e-commerce packages more swiftly.”
Qantas Freight, Menzies Aviation, dnata Cargo, dnata Catering & Retail, and Texel Air have signed on to WSI’s Cargo Precinct, which will eventually grow to service up to 1.8 million tonnes of air cargo annually.
Just two weeks ago, WSI commenced cargo trial flights at the freight precinct with a Qantas A321 aircraft.
“The trials at the freight precinct are now complete, with Western Sydney International Airport commencing operations today and welcoming its first freight flights,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. “Our first freight flights will soon be packed with cargo, set for departure later today.”
WSI is Australia’s first major international greenfield airport in more than 50 years. WSI plans to commence passenger flights on 25 October.
