News

Major logistic companies join new Australian airport freight precinct project

Logistics giant Toll group has joined twelve other international freight stakeholders on the latest Australian airport freight precinct project.

Toll group and ground handler dnata have signed an agreement to collaborate with Western Sydney Airport on the design of the freight precinct at the new Western Sydney International Airport.

Major companies including Australia Post, StarTrack, DB Schenker, DHL Express, DSV Air and Sea, FedEx, Menzies Aviation, Swissport, Qantas Freight, Skyroad Logistics and Wymap have already signed the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).

Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Graham Millett said Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport will open up global markets to Australian exporters.

“Western Sydney International has the capacity to become one of Australia’s largest airports in years to come,” Graham said.

For freight companies, it’s an enticing proposition – we can offer landside and airside freight access on a greenfield site with 24/7 operations,” he said.

Senator for Western Sydney, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said Western Sydney International opens in 2026 it will have capacity for around 220,000 tonnes of freight a year – a figure which is expected to grow as the airport grows, with potential to handle around 1.8 million freight tonnes in the 2060s.

“Expanding the capacity of the freight network through the delivery of a cutting-edge freight precinct will help connect consumers with more goods from across the globe,” Senator Payne said.

Partners who sign the MOU can liaise with Western Sydney International Airport on what size facility and technology they need, and how they want the precinct designed to optimise productivity.

dnata Head of Cargo Terence Yong said the company is excited to partner with Western Sydney Airport to shape and grow the freight market by providing insight into the operations required to support both passenger and cargo services.

“This partnership enables dnata to fulfil our strategy of providing the highest level of customer service, as well as offering the most innovative solutions to the market,” Terence said.

Western Sydney International will capitalise on the growing demand for Australia’s fresh produce abroad and create opportunities to export temperature-sensitive and perishable products. 

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said 24‑hour air operations means that “perishable or time‑sensitive Australian products could leave Sydney at night and arrive in Asian markets in time for sale the following morning.”

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, said there will be ongoing discussions with freight companies about potential operations that will be “focused on maximising efficiencies delivered by the new airport.”

Australian airports currently transport more than one million tonnes of air cargo annually and this is forecast to grow considerably over the next decade.

Western Sydney International is on track to open in 2026.

Send this to a friend