Simon Hickey is CEO of Western Sydney International Airport, set to open in October 2026 as Sydney’s only 24/7 airport. Located in Luddenham, the airport expects 10 million passengers annually by 2033, with 8,500 jobs. The public had the chance to see the airport at the Runway Run/Walk in April which raised $200,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
With so much happening, how do you prioritise what to do each day?
Much like the dynamic environment of a 24-hour airport, my schedule is always busy, but no two days really look the same. I’m generally on the clock early each day – up at 5am to start my day with a cup of coffee. I might be travelling to meet with stakeholders, walking the airport site to review safety or progress of works or testing, or speaking at industry events.
As you’d expect, my priorities shift depending on the project’s priorities and deadlines on any given day, week or month. That agility for me and my team is how we’ve managed to deliver one of the nation’s most complex infrastructure projects, amidst various challenges, while still maintaining our ‘on time and on budget’ credentials. I’m grateful to have such a highly dedicated team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals working very hard each day to bring WSI to life.
Why should people be excited about the airport?
WSI is on track to open for domestic, international, and air cargo services in the second half of this year.
The airport is built to service up to 10 million annual passengers – but it is here to service our city for the next century. And that’s the true success story of WSI, all elements of this innovative, integrated airport precinct are built for growth – it’s here for the long term!
The broader transport infrastructure investments for which WSI has been a major catalyst will connect the west to the west and the west to the rest like never before, and change the way future generations live, work and play.
This includes the new toll-free M12 motorway and under-construction Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line.
WSI will eventually become Sydney’s biggest airport handling more than 80 million annual passengers by the 2060s, which is about the size of London’s Heathrow Airport.
And one of its most influential and game-changing elements is WSI’s 24-hour capacity – we will operate with no curfew or flight caps – and there are many strategic benefits for this for both business and leisure travellers and for freight-related businesses.
Can you outline how the airport will be ‘a pathway to greater prosperity for all of Sydney?’
In terms of prosperity for all of Sydney, it’s hard to overstate one of the airport’s key positive impacts, which is jobs.
We’ve begun announcing more commercial partnerships this year, each of which will play a pivotal role at WSI. The work to bring their operations, shopfronts, warehousing and other services to life reflects this airport’s greatest and most enduring legacy – jobs.
Diverse, meaningful, long-term jobs for Western Sydney’s vibrant communities that utilise their skills and qualifications and ensure they can spend more time at home and less time commuting.
The WSI Runway Run/Walk was a great success. Tell us more about the day.
It was a tremendous day. The excitement and joy shared amongst more than 20,000 people was almost palpable. We had participants from all walks of life – some had flown in to take part, many had worked on the airport project, and a lot had already bought tickets to fly from WSI later this year as well.
I took part in the 4km run – the first race of the day. It felt great being part of that first cohort and my fellow runners were having a terrific time.
We felt really humbled to be able to give people a sneak peek at their new airport and all told, we raised more than $200,000 for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, which was just an extraordinary effort and will go a long way in helping sick kids and their families.
I had the privilege of meeting some of the families and patients supported by the foundation, including Adrienne whose four-year-old daughter Abigail is living with a rare disease. They rely on the hospitals network regularly for Abigail’s ongoing care. They were a wonderful family and spoke candidly about the positive difference the foundation has made for them.
What are the milestones which still need to be achieved before the airport opens?
We still have work to do to prepare for opening and that includes fit-out works for retailers in the terminal as well as completing our advanced trials program, which involves really stress-testing all facets of airport operations. It will also involve trial passengers coming into the precinct on certain testing days and welcoming cargo and passenger jets for trials too.
I’m most looking forward to welcoming our first passengers and giving them the opportunity to experience this new airport and everything we’ve been working on for several years. And to see how the precinct acknowledges the stunning local landscapes and celebrates First Nations culture as well, which starts with the drive down Warami Drive – the front door of the airport.
Do you get your weekends off?
Whether you’re the cadet or the CEO, I believe everyone needs R&R. You need to recharge to be your best self. Having said that – we’re delivering the first greenfield international airport our nation has seen in more than 50 years and we’re mere months away from launching cargo operations and passenger services. So, there’s plenty of work happening on weekends, but I always square some time away with family and friends.
What do you do to destress at the end of your week?
Sharing a nice meal with family or friends is a big one for me. I also enjoy sailing on the harbour when I have the time. And I’m a determinedly average golfer, hiker and skier – but I do enjoy those hobbies, too!
Any other comments?
I’m confident people will love flying from WSI with domestic and international gates under one roof and a simple and streamlined departure experience supported by next generation technology. Our terminal boasts an abundance of space and natural light that supports intuitive wayfinding and the beautiful ceiling is emblematic of the nearby Blue Mountains and Cumberland Plain landscapes. Passengers will get a real sense of place, culture and history and know that WSI is proudly Western Sydney and it is ready to welcome people from across Australia and from around the world.