Western Sydney Airport tech could stop passengers from losing their luggage

Losing their luggage could be a thing of the past for passengers at Western Sydney Airport thanks to groundbreaking new technology, its CEO has claimed. See how it works here.

Lost luggage could become an annoyance of the past thanks to groundbreaking technology to be installed at Western Sydney Airport, according to the airport’s boss Simon Hickey.

The bold promise comes as the airport clocks up more than $400 million spent on local Western Sydney businesses as work gets underway on the third floor of the terminal building.

“Every other airport in Australia puts passengers bags on a conveyor belt but we will be using artificial intelligence to move bags individually on rollers,” airport chief executive Mr Hickey said.

The technology is the same that Amazon uses at its warehouse just down the road at Kemps Creek and is just one of many state-of-the-art systems due to be installed before the airport becomes fully operational at the end of 2026.

This includes a brand new navigational system to complement the more than 3000 LED lights being fitted into the runway that will ensure planes can land in any weather condition including thick Blue Mountains fog.

Passengers at Western Sydney Airport will not have to worry about losing their luggage, the CEO has claimed. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“This is a legacy project and many of the team working on it now will go on to run it operationally,” Mr Hickey said. “It will change Sydney and move it west.”

“Just like the Harbour Bridge it is designed with the future in mind,” Mr Hickey said with the groundwork already done to build a second terminal and runway that will eventually accommodate more than 40 million passengers a year.

The airport and its contractors have engaged more than 250 local businesses from tradies and construction companies to caterers and security guards.

“The airport has already injected over $400 million into the local economy, around half of this money has been spent using local businesses to bring our world-class terminal building to life,” Mr Hickey said.

It is also offering locals new career pathways. “By offering paid traineeships for Year 12 school leavers, we are inviting the next generation of young professionals to be part of bringing Sydney’s new airport to life.”

BKH Group workers Erin Marquez, WHS assistant and apprentice Connor Smith at the Western Sydney Airport Terminal which is starting to take shape. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Hickey said that life would begin with seven airport gates servicing more than 10 million passengers a year who will enjoy an average five minute taxi onto the runway compared to three times that down the road at Kingsford Smith Airport.

Blacktown scaffolding business BKH Scaffolding director Ben Geisker has secured more than $7 million worth of work to allow him to keep apprentices like Connor Smith and civil engineering student Erin Marquez employed.

“It is a massive source of pride for so many of us to work on the airport that will connect Western Sydney to the world,” Mr Geisker said.

FUTURE WESTERN SYDNEY

IT is the nation’s third biggest economy and just before the State election Western Sydney will be the setting for a showdown between the Liberal and Labor leaders.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns will each outline their vision at The Daily Telegraph’s landmark Future Western Sydney forum at Rosehill Gardens on March 2nd.

They will each be arguing why they deserve the vote of the people who make up the most diverse, vibrant and young areas of NSW.

The event comes nine years after The Daily Telegraph first launched its Fair Go For The West campaign that championed better infrastructure and the building of the second international airport at Badgery’s Creek.

The Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English said the Future Western Sydney series would continue the newspaper’s tradition of fighting for the region.

“Since we launched Fair Go For The West this amazing region has become the shining beacon of opportunity for jobs, growth and innovation in NSW,” he said.

“And coming just three weeks before the state election this year’s event will ensure it is front and centre of both leaders’ minds.”