dnata will invest approximately A$32 million to establish a dedicated cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, strengthening its long-term presence in New South Wales and the wider Australian aviation market.
The company will operate from a 5,000 sqm warehouse within the airport’s 24-hour Cargo Precinct, supported by an additional 4,000 sqm of surrounding land.
The airport will deliver the facility as a cold shell, while dnata will complete the full fit-out, including operational infrastructure and a semi-motorised materials handling system.
Around A$6 million of the investment will be allocated to specialist equipment and technology designed to support scalable, efficient and future-ready operations. This includes capabilities for pharmaceuticals and other time- or temperature-sensitive cargo.
Freighter operations are scheduled to begin in July 2026, ahead of the airport’s full passenger opening later in the year.
At full maturity, the facility is expected to handle up to 60,000 tonnes of cargo annually, strengthening New South Wales’ central role in Australia’s airfreight network.
The project is expected to create around 50 direct jobs initially, with additional employment likely as volumes grow. Broader economic benefits are also anticipated across freight forwarding, logistics, ground handling and related supply chain services in Western Sydney.
Burt Sigsworth, Managing Director of dnata Airport Operations Australia, said the investment reflects strong confidence in the region’s long-term economic outlook and the importance of air cargo to Australian trade.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said dnata’s arrival will strengthen the airport’s Cargo Precinct and provide cargo and ground handling services for both domestic and international airlines.
The precinct will initially handle at least 220,000 tonnes of freight annually and will be capable of servicing eight wide-body aircraft simultaneously.
The announcement follows dnata’s earlier commitment to build an advanced inflight catering facility at the airport, capable of producing up to three million meals per year.
Across Australia, dnata operates at nine airports, supports more than 107,000 aircraft movements annually, processes around 300,000 tonnes of cargo and produces more than 54 million airline meals each year. The company employs approximately 8,000 people nationwide.
