WITH PASSENGER FLIGHTS at Western Sydney International Airport about to take off, new challenges and opportunities are beckoning for many businesses in the Blue Mountains. WSI passenger flights will begin on 25 October, following the commencement of cargo services in July. Jetstar and Air New Zealand will be the first carriers to use the airport, with several other airlines booked and more in the pipeline, according to WSI.
The curfew-free air travel gateway has taken seven years to construct and many billions of dollars have gone directly into the project and its surrounding infrastructure, including roads and associated business and residential zones. Albeit not without controversy – e.g. concerns over aircraft noise, air pollution – WSI has been completed on schedule and on budget. With so much invested, governments at all levels are determined to make it a success. If all goes to plan, business investment in and around the airport will be immense and thousands of jobs will be created.
The Blue Mountains form a backdrop to the WSI terminal, wherein a number of design motifs pay homage to the high country visible to the west. This should help to prime visitor interest in the mountains, which clearly are already a must-visit for many tourists arriving in Sydney. For local authorities and the tourism sector in the Blue Mountains there will be both opportunities to attract more visitors and challenges in creating the best experiences for them.
The accompanying video about WSI and featuring Blue Mountains Gin Company, was commissioned by WSI and released at the start of 2025. We include it here as a reference to how at that time we viewed the airport that was taking shape.
Three Sisters Katoomba
The famous view that draws millions of visitors. But there’s a whole lot more to experience on a visit to the Blue Mountains, and tourism operators will have the chance to promote these attractions to visitors arriving at WSI Airport.