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The former head of Qantas International and Frequent Flyer has been appointed as the new chief executive of Western Sydney Airport.
Simon Hickey is believed to have already taken up the role and his immediate tasks will be to finalise the design of the facility’s new terminal precinct and start the procurement of the runway construction.
The executive, who also worked as the CFO of construction company Lendlease, left Qantas in 2014 following a cost-cutting program.
“My focus will be not only on building the infrastructure but on building the commercial proposition around passenger aviation, air cargo and our on-airport business park,” said Hickey.
“This project is about so much more than terminals and runways, it’s the catalyst for jobs and investment in western Sydney.”
In June, Australian Aviation reported that the NSW government approved a new $2.6 billion industrial precinct next to the forthcoming airport.
The news came weeks after the airport confirmed construction of a new rail link to St Marys station, consisting of six metro stations, will begin this year.
The ‘Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport’ line will be six kilometres longer than initially envisaged and involve putting part of St Marys underground.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison then hailed the influence of the new national cabinet in speeding up the decision.
“This is how Australia makes it way back out of the COVID-19 crisis, infrastructure projects like this one,” he said.
