Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue held its annual Airport City Summit on 3 July 2026, exploring the opportunities Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will bring to the region.

Held at The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm, the event brought together government, industry and community leaders from across the region to examine the infrastructure, investment and policies that will ensure Western Sydney fully leverages this once-in-a-generation project.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese engaged in a Q&A session with Dialogue Chair Christopher Brown.

“We're not building Western Sydney’s airport, we're building Australia's next number one airport,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Albanese said: "It will be the best airport in Australia when it opens. On day one. There's no question about it.”

Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand will take off from WSI later this year, with Mr Albanese expressing confidence that more international airlines will soon join them.

“The experience of people who travel through Western Sydney International will ensure that every single passenger becomes an ambassador for the airport and for the experience,” he said.

“Our government will be very much encouraging, as we have already, really encouraging airlines to use the airport, including international airlines.”

View Mr Albanese’s full speech here.

NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car delivered a keynote address, before joining Dialogue CEO Adam Leto for a Q&A session.

“Western Sydney is such a dynamic place to invest in. It is one of the most diverse places in the country, it's made for international investment,” she said.

”There is a captive audience here of a really highly educated, highly motivated workforce. It's here for the taking.”

Western Sydney International Airport CEO Simon Hickey discussed how WSI will change Western Sydney, becoming a new 24-hour gateway, unlocking more choice and flexibility along the eastern seaboard.

Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones joined a panel discussion on how Western Sydney will be positioned as Australia's new global gateway, delivering real outcomes for international visitation to NSW.

“Western Sydney attracted nearly 30 million visitors in the year to March 2026, who spent over $9 billion in the local visitor economy,” Ms Jones said.

“This is without the airport even being open – imagine what we can grow this to when we have a direct gateway into Western Sydney?

“I’m excited about the potential the airport will bring to the people of Western Sydney, as we open the region up to the world.”