Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Simon Hickey leads Western Sydney Airport toward its October opening
Simon Hickey is leading construction of Western Sydney International Airport, a major new airport in western Sydney.
He took charge of the airport corporation in 2020, three months after Australia entered COVID-19 lockdown.
The project then faced pandemic uncertainty, floods, bushfires and plagues of locusts and mice.
Hickey also witnessed the September 11 attacks in New York and supported Qantas’ decision to ground its entire fleet during an industrial dispute in 2011.
Those experiences shaped his work on a project that involves building an airport and persuading airlines to serve it.
The airport will give western Sydney a new international gateway, and its terminal is ready for its first passengers.
It is due to open to passengers on October 25, with Hickey leading the effort to bring airlines to the airport.
Simon Hickey has led the construction of Western Sydney International Airport since taking charge of the airport corporation in 2020.
The airport is due to open to passengers on October 25.
The terminal is ready for its first passengers, and Hickey has overseen major earthworks and efforts to attract airlines.
The project has faced challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, bushfires and locust and mouse plagues.
Hickey previously held senior roles at Qantas and supported the 2011 decision to ground the airline’s fleet.
- Who
- Simon Hickey, chief executive of Western Sydney Airport.
- What
- He has overseen construction of Western Sydney International Airport, which is due to open to passengers.
- When
- The airport is due to open on October 25. Hickey took charge in 2020.
- Where
- Western Sydney, Australia.
- Why
- The sources describe the airport’s construction and preparation for opening but do not state why the project was undertaken.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hickey was working in New York during the September 11 terrorist attacks and visited the site the next day.
Hickey supported the decision to ground Qantas’ entire aircraft fleet during an industrial dispute.
Hickey took charge of the airport corporation during the early months of the pandemic.
Western Sydney International Airport is due to open to passengers.
- Chief executive
- Simon Hickey
- Took charge
- 2020
- Earth moved
- 27.5 million cubic metres
- Fleet grounding
- Qantas, 2011
- Scheduled passenger opening
- October 25
What people are saying
We moved 27.5 million cubic metres of dirt.
It was a white-knuckle ride. We had to turn around an international business. It’s very different from growing a business from scratch.
I was on the executive committee that considered it, and I supported it.