SYDNEY: Dnata said on April 22 it will invest about A$32 million to establish a dedicated cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, becoming one of the early freight operators at Sydney’s new 24-hour gateway before full passenger services begin. The Dubai-based air and travel services provider said the project will add new cargo handling capacity in New South Wales and support freight movements through a purpose-built facility inside the airport’s cargo precinct.
The company said it will operate from a 5,000 square meter warehouse supported by an additional 4,000 square meters of surrounding land. Western Sydney International will provide the site as a cold shell, while dnata will complete the operational fit-out, including core infrastructure and a semi-motorised materials handling system. About A$6 million of the investment has been allocated to specialised equipment and technology, including capabilities for pharmaceuticals and other time and temperature sensitive shipments.
Freighter operations are scheduled to start in July 2026, several months before the airport’s full passenger opening later this year. dnata said the terminal is expected to handle up to 60,000 tonnes of cargo a year at maturity and create about 50 direct jobs in its initial phase. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the addition of dnata Cargo would help connect Western Sydney to international markets and lift freight throughput at Sydney’s new airport.
Dnata Cargo precinct expansion
Western Sydney International said its cargo precinct has been built to handle large scale freight activity from the outset, with capacity to service eight wide-body aircraft at one time and open with the ability to process at least 220,000 tonnes of freight a year. The airport has also highlighted dedicated road access via the upgraded Northern Road and proximity to major freight and logistics areas at Kemps Creek and the Aerotropolis, giving cargo operators direct links to distribution networks across the region.
The cargo terminal announcement builds on dnata’s earlier commitment to develop an advanced inflight catering centre within the same precinct. That separate project, announced in 2025, was valued at A$17 million and is designed to produce up to three million meals a year. In Australia, dnata already operates across nine airports, providing cargo, ground handling, passenger services and catering, while processing about 300,000 tonnes of cargo annually across its existing network.
Airport opening timetable
Western Sydney International is due to open in October 2026, and the airport has already announced that Singapore Airlines plans to begin the first scheduled passenger service from the site on November 23, 2026. That timeline places dnata’s planned cargo start ahead of the passenger launch, making freight one of the first core aviation activities to come online at the airport. The project also aligns with the airport’s stated focus on operating as Sydney’s first round the clock aviation hub.
For dnata, the facility adds a new cargo base in a market where the company already has a substantial aviation services presence. For Western Sydney International, the agreement brings another confirmed tenant into a precinct intended to support airlines, freight forwarders and integrators from the first phase of airport operations. The development gives the airport an additional dedicated cargo handling asset for high value and time critical shipments as opening preparations continue in 2026 – By Content Syndication Services.
