Western Sydney Airport Taps Local Brewer Mountain Culture for Terminal Venues

Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has selected local craft brewer Mountain Culture Beer Co to operate its first major food and beverage locations in the upcoming integrated passenger terminal. The Katoomba-based brewery will establish two separate venues, serving domestic and international passengers ahead of the airport's official opening.

The partnership, facilitated by Airport Retail Group Australia (ARGA), covers a seven-year agreement. In addition to the two Mountain Culture locations, ARGA will manage two other concession spaces yet to be announced, totaling four venues at the new airport. Mountain Culture, which operates facilities in Katoomba and Emu Plains, plans to supply the terminals with beer brewed just 22 kilometers from the runways.

ARGA currently operates a portfolio of venues across other major hubs including Brisbane Airport and Sydney Airport. The concessionaire aims to highlight regional small businesses within high-traffic terminals, giving international visitors immediate access to local brands.

WSI CEO Simon Hickey noted that incorporating regional businesses is central to the identity of the brand-new aviation hub. Hickey stated, "Western Sydney International is an airport which reflects the character, creativity and energy of the region it represents, and a strong presence from local brands like Mountain Culture helps bring that vision to life."

To mark the partnership, Mountain Culture is developing a dedicated craft beer exclusive to WSI. The unique brew will only be available to passengers inside the terminal, allowing travelers to experience a localized flavor profile while waiting at the gate.

The terminal's interior architecture also mirrors the local geography. Its striking feature ceiling and layout draw direct inspiration from the neighboring Blue Mountains. Mountain Culture Co-Founder and CEO DJ McCready noted that the alignment is ideal for passengers. McCready said, "So, extending this to passengers of Western Sydney International Airport as they look at the Blue Mountains outside their gate window, could not be more apt."

WSI represents Australia's first major greenfield airport development in over 50 years. The major construction packages for WSI's terminal, airside pavements, and landside civil works were completed in mid-2025. This has cleared the path for the fit-out of retail and dining spaces over the coming months.

Designed for long-term scalability, the single-runway airport will initially handle up to 10 million passengers annually. WSI is expected to grow to 82 million passengers per year by the 2060s. Air cargo services are scheduled to begin on July 26, 2026, with the first commercial passenger flights taking off on October 25, 2026.