Ground and cargo handler dnata is moving ahead with a A$32m investment in a dedicated cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), positioning itself for operations before the airport officially opens later this year.
The airport will provide the facility as a cold shell, while dnata will carry out the full operational fit-out. This includes installing the critical infrastructure needed to run the site, along with a semi-motorised materials handling system.
Located within the airport’s 24-hour cargo precinct, the site will include a 5,000 sq m warehouse as well as an additional 4,000 sq m of surrounding land.
According to dnata, around A$6m of the total investment will go toward specialised equipment and technology designed to support efficient and scalable cargo operations. This includes capabilities for handling sensitive shipments such as pharmaceuticals and other time- and temperature-critical cargo.
Once operational, the facility is expected to handle up to 60,000 tonnes of cargo per year and create an initial 50 jobs, with further employment growth anticipated as cargo volumes expand.
Dnata first signalled its interest in establishing an operation at Western Sydney International back in 2020.
Commenting on the development, Burt Sigsworth, managing director of dnata Airport Operations, Australia, said the investment reflects strong confidence in Western Sydney’s long-term economic potential and in the role airfreight will continue to play in supporting Australian trade.
He added that launching a purpose-built facility from day one would help strengthen supply chain resilience, support local industry and generate skilled employment in one of Australia’s fastest-growing economic regions.
Freighter flights at WSI are due to begin in July 2026, ahead of the airport’s full passenger opening later in the year.
The airport’s cargo precinct will initially be able to handle at least 220,000 tonnes of freight annually and is designed to accommodate eight widebody aircraft simultaneously.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said the cargo precinct had been built with expansion in mind, adding that while the first phase is set to launch by the end of July, the site has significant room to grow in line with future market demand.
Dnata currently operates at nine airports across Australia, where it provides cargo handling, ground services, passenger services and inflight catering. Across its Australian network, the company handles around 300,000 tonnes of cargo each year.
