Perth Airport
Terminal 1 in 2015
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerUtilities Trust of Australia (38%)
Future Fund (30%)
OperatorPerth Airport Pty Ltd
ServesPerth Metropolitan Region
LocationPerth Airport
Hub for
Focus city for
Elevation AMSL67 ft / 20 m
Coordinates31°56′24″S 115°57′54″E / 31.94°S 115.965°E / -31.94; 115.965 (Perth Airport)
Websitewww.perthairport.com.au
Map
PER is located in Perth
PER
PER
PER is located in Western Australia
PER
PER
PER is located in Australia
PER
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PER is located in Oceania
PER
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Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 3,444 11,299 Asphalt
06/24 2,163 7,096 Asphalt
Statistics (YE Jun-Oct 2023)
Passengers5,316,106[1]
Aircraft movements50,988[1]

Perth Airport (IATA: PER, ICAO: YPPH) is an international, domestic and general aviation airport serving Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.

It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia measured by passenger movements and falls within the boundaries of the City of Belmont, City of Kalamunda and the City of Swan.[2] Perth Airport and Jandakot Airport, the other civilian airport within the mainland Perth metropolitan area located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-southwest of the general aviation area of the airport,[3][lower-alpha 1] recorded a combined total of 362,782 aircraft movements in 2017.[4]

Perth Airport covers a total of 2,105 hectares (5,202 acres) of airport property.[5]

Since 1997, it has been operated by Perth Airport Pty Ltd under a 99-year lease from the Commonwealth Government.[6]: 48 

Location

Perth Airport with city centre behind, image taken from the Darling Scarp looking west

The airport is located approximately 10 km (6 mi) east of the Perth central business district. It is one of three civilian airports within the Perth metropolitan area, the others being Jandakot Airport and Rottnest Island Airport. Besides the civilian airports, there are also two military airports within the Perth metropolitan area. The larger of the two is RAAF Base Pearce, 30 km (19 mi) to the north of Perth Airport, at Bullsbrook. The other is 42 km (26 mi) south-west of Perth Airport, and is a part of the military base of HMAS Stirling on Garden Island.

Perth Airport is located on the Aboriginal traditional Whadjak-Noongar country.

Growth and impact

The airport saw strong passenger growth from 2000 to 2012, primarily due to the state's prolonged mining boom and an increase in traffic from international low-cost carrier airlines. By the end of June 2012, Perth Airport experienced passenger growth of 11.7% internationally and 6.9% domestically, resulting in an overall increase of 10.3%. Passenger numbers trebled in the 10 years from 2002 to 2012 with more than 12.6 million people travelling through the airport in 2012. Since 2012, the winding down of the mining boom has seen the demand for both intra- and interstate services contract, with domestic passengers falling from a peak of 9.9 million (as of June 2013) to 9.5 million by the end of June 2016. The growth in passenger numbers since 2012 has been wholly due to expansion of international services from the city. The first mining boom in 1979 had 679,000 passengers use the airport. This number now travels through the airport every eighteen days.

As well as passenger movements however, complaints about the impact of the airport on the residents of Perth have grown.[7][8] The City of Canning, one area that is affected, accepts that “aircraft noise is an important issue” and that “[it] does impact heavily on those suburbs under the flightpaths.”[9] Another affected area, the City of Swan, “has experienced significant issues.”[10] Indeed, planning policy adopted by the Government of Western Australia recognises that some aircraft noise is “not compatible with residential or educational” land use,[11] two fundamental uses of land in any conurbation that is home to over two million residents—such as Greater Perth.

History

Early days

Prior to the opening of the Perth Airport, civilian air services for the city were provided from Maylands Aerodrome as well as on the city's foreshore at Langley Park.[12] By the end of the 1930s, it became clear that the Maylands Aerodrome was limited in the size and speed of aircraft it was able to handle thus causing them to seek an alternative site for a future airport.[12]

Site selection and preparation of the original plans was undertaken by Mr N M Fricker of the Department of Civil Aviation.[13] In 1938, land was selected and purchased for the new aerodrome. The site selected in what was at the time Guildford, was an area of land granted by Governor James Stirling to local man John Scott, which later became the long disused Dunreath Golf Course.[12][13]

A plaque located on a roadside wall of the old International terminal remains in permanent memory of Scott:[13]

Perth Airport stands on part of an area granted originally by Governor James Stirling to John Scott. A yeoman farmer from Lanarkshire, Scotland who arrived in Western Australia in March 1831, after a voyage of about 90 days in the schooner Eliza of 343 tons. He came at the invitation of the governor, to establish and maintain a bloodstock farm for the colony. He made his home near Guildford, using the Swan River to reach the farm in this area.

In recognition of his services Governor Stirling granted him lease of an area at Bunbury, where he became the first settler in 1838.

Remember him as one who helped to bring prosperity to this land.[13]

— Text of roadside plaque in memory of John Scott.

Military operations

Even before civil aviation operations could commence at the new site, the onset of World War II saw the facility being redesigned for military purposes as a temporary base for the Royal Australian Air Force and United States Navy, known as "RAAF Station Guildford", primarily to supplement RAAF Base Pearce.[12] Royal Australian Air Force No. 85 Squadron was based there from February 1943.

Despite military use of the airfield, civil services operated by Qantas Empire Airways and Australian National Airways (ANA) commenced from the location in 1944.[12] This was despite bitter protest from military authorities who felt civilian operations would undermine the defence and camouflage needs of the location.[12]

The move was agreed to by the government, as the larger types of aircraft of the day being operated by the two airlines could simply not be handled at Maylands, notwithstanding the small grass airfield, lack of passenger facilities, and approaches being difficult due to surrounding industrial infrastructure.[12] Using Douglas DC-3 aircraft, ANA flew the first commercial service from the aerodrome to Adelaide.[12] On 17 June 1944, Qantas made its inaugural flight to Ceylon via Exmouth using a modified Consolidated B-24 Liberator, arriving in Perth on 3 June 1944 having been released to the airline by the British Government.[12]

Early civilian operations

An Australian National Airways Douglas DC-4 refuelling at Perth Airport in 1955.

Full civilian operations at the Guildford Aerodrome commenced in 1944.[13] Civil operations at Maylands continued albeit reduced until 30 June 1963, when the airport closed and its function as a secondary airport was taken over by Jandakot Airport the very next day.[12]

Guildford Aerodrome was at best only a basic airfield.[12] On a large open airfield with plenty of space, an unobtrusive control tower was hidden away amongst a collection of buildings inherited from the wartime operations at the site.[12] The Department of Civil Aviation inherited a large number of operating vehicles from the former military occupants, including an assortment of vehicles including (Ford or Chevrolet) Blitz wagons, Dodge command cars and weapon carriers, large trucks and various makes of fire tenders, jeeps and ambulances.[12] Boarding aircraft at Guildford was described as being a bit like boarding a bus given the lack of passenger facilities at the time.[12]

In 1948, the Horrie Miller owned MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA) relocated from Maylands to Guildford.[12] followed by newly formed government airline Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) on 2 December of that same year, operating Douglas C-54 Skymasters on its Perth – Melbourne – Sydney route.[12] Due to the lack of road transportation across the Nullarbor Plain, it was at this time that Guildford became the scene of very busy cargo operations.[12] Fresh fruit, vegetables and manufactured goods were being flown from east to west and back again.

The airport was granted international status in September 1952, and renamed from Guildford Aerodrome to Perth Airport in March 1953.[14][15][16] Officiated by the Federal Minister for Civil Aviation, Hubert Anthony, the official ceremony for the renaming took place on the main apron in front of a converted Bellman hangar used by TAA as its passenger terminal.[12] At the time, a new international terminal building was under construction but had not been completed in time for the ceremony.[12] This new terminal was being constructed using steel and cladding recycled from American-built military quonset buildings being dismantled and shipped over from Manus Island.[12]

It was also on this day that Qantas commenced its Wallaby service using Lockheed Constellations from Sydney to South Africa via Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.[12]

The jet age

Ansett Boeing 727-100 at Perth Airport in 1971

Towards the mid-1950s, airline travel was still being used by only a small percentage of the population. At that time, only 8% of the population had ever flown, but as the marketplace evolved, so did the types of people and their reasons for flying.[12]

It was at this time the airport began to experience the full effects of the jet age. Although both Air India and Qantas commenced operating Boeing 707s in the mid to late 1950s from Perth to Singapore and the sub continent,[12] as the aircraft of the day grew faster and more demanding due to their sophistication, facilities at the airport continued to improve to accommodate them.[12] By the mid-1960s the airport commenced seeing its first domestic pure jet engine aircraft, commencing with a Boeing 727 in 1964, and the Douglas DC-9 in 1967, both types operated by TAA and Ansett ANA.[12] It was at this time that the airport was one of the few major airports in the country which operated without curfews, and due to the increased number and frequency of flights operating from the airport it gave birth to what was then referred to as the midnight horror or red-eye special, known in more recent history as the red-eye flight.[12]

Demise of the hangar terminals

In 1960, the then international terminal previously constructed from steel and cladding from Manus Island was dismantled and then re-erected in the suburb of Cannington.[12] Known as The Alco Building, it was re-designed for use as a commercial facility.[12]

The removal of the steel structure made way for the construction of an entirely new combined domestic and international passenger terminal, constructed on the northern side of the airfield.[12] It was in 1962 that airlines were able to move from their hangars into a new combined passenger terminal, designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works and opened just in time to handle 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games traffic increases.[12][13] The new combined terminal was opened that same year by then Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Shane Paltridge; it was built in an area positioned between the present Terminals 3 and 4 and is currently used as the crew base for both Qantas and Jetstar, and offices for airlines and support firms.[12][17]

International terminal development

From 1962 onwards, both the domestic and international passenger operations at the airport were provided by a single terminal.[17] However, by the arrival of the Boeing 747 on 3 September 1971, the existing terminal had reached its capacity, and modelling of future passenger numbers showed it would be unable to handle any further increases in passenger demand.[12][17]

In November 1980, the Federal Transport Minister, Ralph Hunt, announced that a new international terminal would be built in Perth at a cost of $26 million (1980).[12] Design of the new International Terminal commenced in 1982, with one of the key principles of the design being the allowance for easy future expansion as the needs of the airport dictated.[17] The project called for the construction of a new terminal, apron, airside roads, access roads, car parks and other passenger facilities.[17]

Construction of the new International Terminal and control tower commenced in March 1984 on the south-eastern side of the airfield.[17] In 1984, the road leading to the new terminal, Horrie Miller Drive was named in honour of local aviation pioneer Horrie Miller.[18] The terminal was officially opened on 25 October 1986 by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, with the new terminal receiving passengers just days after.[12][17] The newly built control tower was the tallest in Australia at the time of its construction, and remains the tallest in Australia.[19]

Upon completion, the terminal was able to process up to five Boeing 747 aircraft per hour and accommodated a peak passenger volume of 6,000 passengers per hour.[17] Twenty years later, in the 12 months to June 2006 the terminal processed over 2.027 million passengers, surpassing a 1996 projection of 1.016 million passengers in that period.[17]

1988 onwards

The airport control tower, built in 1987

In the late 1980s the Federal Government, as a prelude to eventual privatisation, formed the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC). In 1988, the FAC took over as manager of Perth Airport (and many other Australian airports).[12]

At this time also, airline operators Qantas and Ansett set about on ambitious capital works programs to construct new domestic terminals for their respective airlines on the northern side of the terminal, where they still stand to this day.[12] In 2001, after the financial collapse of Ansett, the Ansett terminal became a multi-user terminal, catering for flights from former Ansett-subsidiary Skywest, as well as Virgin Australia and now charter airlines including Alliance Airlines and previously Air Australia. The Ansett terminal is known now as Terminal 1 Domestic, and the old International terminal is known as Terminal 1 International. The Air Australia and Qantas terminal is now Terminal 3-4, operating flights by Qantas and Jetstar.

In July 1997 Perth Airport Pty Ltd took up a 99-year lease as part of the Federal Government's push to privatise airports.[20] As at February 2021, Utilities Trust of Australia (38%) and Future Fund (30%) were the major shareholders.[21]

From 2003 to 2004, the International terminal underwent major internal refurbishments to provide an increased array of passenger services, including increased space for duty-free stores and food and beverage concession stands.[17] Further upgrades valued at $25 million (2006) were made to the terminal across 2005 and 2006 which added an additional 2,500 m2 (27,000 sq ft) of floor space, additional check-in counters, and an improved baggage handling and screening system.[17]

The airport commemorated its 60th anniversary in 2004, with an event that opened the new Taxiway Sierra, a new taxiway supporting larger aircraft such as the Boeing 747, Airbus A340 and Airbus A380.[22]

On 14 October 2008, the Airbus A380 made its first visit to the airport as a part of Qantas' A380 promotional tour around Australia. The second A380 to visit the airport was an Emirates aircraft which made an emergency landing on 15 August 2009, after a passenger on a Dubai to Sydney flight suffered a stroke.[23]

In 2012, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a report rating the Perth Airport as the worst in Australia, as judged by airlines. The same report rated it below satisfactory for the second year in a row.[24] However, due to more recent expansions and projects, the airport was awarded Capital City airport of the year by the Australian Airports Association at their national conference in 2016.[25] In 2018, Perth Airport was named the best airport in Australia for overall service quality by the ACCC after the completion of a $1 billion redevelopment project over the span of 5 years.[26]

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 was officially opened on 28 February 2013, with the first flights operating out of the terminal from 2 March 2013. The single story terminal features at-grade access to the terminal building and dedicated pick-up and drop-off lanes at the front of the terminal, a centralised passenger security screening zone, three baggage reclaim belts as well 14 aircraft bays, accessible from enclosed walkways and serviced by 8 boarding counters, and 36 additional aircraft parking bays.[27]

Terminal 1 Domestic Pier

In April 2015 works commenced on a $42 million upgrade of the forecourt and the passenger pick-up/drop-off areas in front of Terminal 1 to improve access.[28] The upgrade was completed in November 2016.[29]

In May 2015, Emirates commenced the first Airbus A380 service to Perth from Dubai following the completion of a dual level boarding gate, an expanded check-in hall, a refurbished departure area and other expansions to Terminal 1 including a new Emirates business class lounge.[30][31] In August 2017, Emirates replaced its last remaining Emirates Boeing 777-300ER service with an Airbus A380, taking the total Emirates daily services to two.[32] However, this service was replaced by a Boeing 777 in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 1 November 2022, the first regular A380 service resumed.

Terminal 1 Domestic Pier at night

On 22 November 2015 the domestic pier of Terminal 1 was opened; the pier became the exclusive home to Virgin Australia.[33] Virgin Australia's partner, Etihad Airways began daily direct services from its hub in Abu Dhabi on 16 July 2014;[34] the pier ensures quick and seamless transfers between the two airlines. The pier will also be connected to Terminal 2 via an elevated walkway allowing seamless transfer to Virgin's regional services without having to be re-screened.

On 15 May 2016, the world's largest commercial jet airliner, the Antonov An-225 Mriya landed at Perth Airport, making its first visit to Perth and Australia.

On 3 November 2016, construction of a commuter rail link to the airport was started, with Airport Central station on the Airport line linking the future consolidated terminal precinct with the greater Transperth railway network.[35] The Airport line, which opened on 9 October 2022 and is underground below Perth airport, converges with the Midland line at Bayswater station.[36][37] Also constructed was a pedestrian "skybridge" linking the station to Terminal 1.[38]

On 11 December 2016, Qantas announced that it would commence non-stop flights from Perth to London Heathrow with one of its newly acquired Boeing 787 Dreamliners. To achieve this the Qantas domestic terminal at T3/T4 was upgraded during 2017 to cater for international flights. Once completed the existing Qantas flights to Singapore and Auckland also migrated to the same terminal. All Qantas’ international flights now depart from Terminal 3’s International section. Services to London started in March 2018.[39]

Facilities and services

A Qantas Airbus A330-300 docked at Terminal 1. Terminals 3 and 4 are visible in the background.

Perth Airport has five terminals: four main terminals and one minor terminal.[40]

Terminal 1 Domestic check-in area
  • On the eastern side of the airport (and the location of the future consolidated terminal precinct) are:
    • Terminal 1 (T1), originally known as the International Terminal, caters primarily for flights originating or departing outside Australia, with five jetways and a total of seven gates including a Multi Access Ramp System which allows dual boarding of aircraft including the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. There are four airline lounges: the Emirates lounge; a Singapore Airlines Silver Kris lounge; the Air New Zealand Lounge and the unaffiliated Aspire Lounge. The Emirates lounge has a second level and offers direct boarding on their flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. In November 2015, a new domestic pier opened at the west end of T1 to service Virgin Australia domestic flights. The domestic pier has eight gates and contains a Virgin Australia lounge. It is connected to T2 by a walkway.
    • Terminal 2 (T2) is located to the immediate south west of T1 and caters for regional services. Virgin Australia Regional and Alliance commenced operations from T2 in 2013 whilst Rex Airlines commenced operations from T2 in 2016.[41] It contains two lounges, an Aspire Lounge and an Alliance lounge.
  • On the western side of the airport are the remaining terminals; terminals T3 and T4 adjoin each other, with Qantas Group having exclusive use of both terminals since the movement of Virgin Australia to T1. The Perth Airport Master Plan outlines these two terminals will ultimately be demolished and replaced by a single new terminal east of T1.
    • Terminal 3 (T3) has five jetways and a total of nine gates. Since November 2015, it is currently primarily used by Jetstar domestic flights, although some Qantas services also operate from the terminal. Since March 2018, Qantas international departures have taken place at T3, having moved from T1; for this purpose the terminal has been outfitted with customs and immigration facilities, and contains an international arrivals concourse.[42] T3 contains two Qantas lounges, with one dedicated to the airline's international passengers.
    • Terminal 4 (T4) has four jetways and a total of nine gates and is dedicated to the domestic operations of Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar. The terminal also facilitates check in for Qantas' international services. It has two member lounges: The Qantas Club, which was expanded in March 2013 to cater for an additional 140 passengers;[43] and the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, which opened in 2014.
    • There is also a general aviation terminal to the north of T3 and T4 simply called General Aviation that is used primarily by some charter aircraft and for mining companies with fly-in fly-out services, with Jandakot airport also serving that function.

Runways

Flights are serviced by two runways – the main 03/21 runway, 3,444 m × 45 m (11,299 ft × 148 ft) and 06/24, 2,163 m × 45 m (7,096 ft × 148 ft).

In 1965, Runway 03/21 was extended from 7,500 ft (2,286 m) to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) to accommodate Boeing 707s.[44]

After a 10-month project, a reconstructed cross runway was opened on 21 October 2005.[45] The upgrades involved significant strengthening works and enlargement of turning nodes to accommodate regular operations by wide bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.[45]

Meteorological services

Meteorological services for Perth Airport commenced in May 1944, provided by the Guildford Meteorological Office situated at Ivy Street, Redcliffe.[46]

In March 1988, surface observations were moved to the recently vacated old airport tower on the northern side of the airfield (near what is now Terminal 3).[46] The Ivy Street location was retained for a time for radar services and the launching and tracking of weather balloons.[46] In October 1997, all operations from the Ivy Street Office and Old Control Tower were transferred to a newly constructed office on the Northern Perimeter Road in Belmont, in the north-eastern corner of the airfield.[46]

Landing patterns and approach

Perth Airport resides within the Melbourne FIR, which is managed by Melbourne Centre and operated by Airservices Australia.[47]

Observation areas

Viewing platform on Dunreath Drive

There are two dedicated spotting areas at Perth Airport. Terminal T1 has an Observation Deck on level 3 to view departing and arriving aircraft. It has vending machines, toilets and flight information displays.

The second spotting area is to the west side opposing the threshold of Runway 03 located along Dunreath Drive. The public viewing area has a shelter in the shape of the body section of a Boeing 747, and displays of information about the history of aviation.[48]

Other services

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has its Perth regional office on Level 2 of the Hkew Alpha Building on the property of Perth Domestic Airport.[49]

Since May 2014, terminals T1 International, T2 Regional and T3 Domestic have a free Wi-Fi connection currently powered by iiNet. It is accessible throughout the entirety of the departure and arrival areas. Currently, T4 Qantas Domestic also has a free Wi-Fi service provided by Qantas.

The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC) had a purpose-built driver training facility at Perth Airport, the only one of its kind in the state.[50] It was located towards the east of the current T1 International Terminal on Grogan Road.

Airlines and destinations

Perth Airport is served by 29 scheduled airlines flying to over 50 destinations in Australia, Oceania, Asia, Africa and Europe. A total of 1258 scheduled domestic and regional flights arrive and depart from Perth Airport each week. On the international front, a total of 213 scheduled[51] international flights arrive and depart from Perth Airport each week. The following carriers operate to the following destinations:[52]

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
AirAsia Kuala Lumpur–International (begins 11 March 2024)[53]
AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur–International[54]
Air Mauritius Mauritius[55]
Air New Zealand Auckland
Airnorth Alice Springs (begins 25 March 2024)[56]
Seasonal: Darwin, Kununurra
Alliance Airlines Kalgoorlie, Newman,[57] Port Hedland[57]
Charter: Barimunya, Cape Preston, Christmas Creek, Christmas Island, Coondewanna, Karratha, Leinster, Leonora, Mount Keith, Paraburdoo, Telfer, The Granites[58]
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Narita[59]
Batik Air Denpasar,[60] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta[61]
Batik Air Malaysia Auckland,[62] Denpasar, Kuala Lumpur–International
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong
China Eastern Airlines Seasonal: Shanghai–Pudong (resumes 20 January 2024)[63]
Citilink Denpasar, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta
Emirates Dubai–International
Indonesia AirAsia Denpasar, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta
Jetstar Adelaide, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi (begins 6 September 2024),[64] Brisbane,[65] Cairns, Denpasar, Gold Coast,[66] Melbourne, Phuket (begins 6 August 2024),[64] Singapore (begins 1 August 2024),[64] Sydney
Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International
Maroomba Airlines Charter: Dalgaranga, Golden Grove, Mount Magnet
National Jet Express Charter: Barrow Island, Cue, Jundee, Karara, Laverton, Leinster, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mount Keith, Murrin Murrin, Newman, Nova, Plutonic, Tropicana
Nexus AirlinesGeraldton[67]
Philippine Airlines Manila[68]
Qantas Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Canberra, Darwin, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, London–Heathrow,[69] Melbourne, Newman, Paris–Charles de Gaulle (resumes 12 July 2024),[70] Port Hedland, Singapore, Sydney
Seasonal: Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo,[71] Rome–Fiumicino[72]
Charter: Christmas Creek, Cloudbreak, Ginbata, Solomon[73]
QantasLink Broome, Darwin, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland
Charter: Carosue Dam, Christmas Creek, Cloudbreak, Eliwana, Ginbata, Iron Bridge, Koolan Island, Solomon, Wodgina
Qatar Airways Doha
Rex Airlines Albany, Carnarvon, Esperance,[41][74] Monkey Mia
Scoot Singapore
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Skippers Aviation Charter: Burnakura, Darlot-Centenary, Jundee, Kalbarri, Laverton, Lawlers, Leinster, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, Plutonic, Sunrise Dam, Wiluna
South African Airways Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo (resumes 28 April 2024)[75]
Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi (resumes 31 March 2024)[76]
VietJet Air Ho Chi Minh City[77]
Vietnam Airlines Ho Chi Minh City[78]
Virgin Australia Adelaide, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns,[79] Darwin, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Melbourne, Newman, Port Hedland, Sydney
Seasonal: Launceston
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Adelaide, Broome, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Darwin, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Onslow, Port Hedland
Charter: Argyle, Barimunya, Barrow Island, Boolgeeda, , Busselton, West Angelas, Woodie Woodie

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Qantas Freight[80] Melbourne
Qatar Airways Cargo[81] Doha
Toll Priority Brisbane, Melbourne
MASkargo Kuala Lumpur-International

Operations and statistics

Total

Total passengers using the airport has increased on average by 2.5% annually since 1998 to 2022, with 78% of passenger traffic at the airport attributed to domestic travel in 2022.[82]

An AirAsia X aircraft at Perth Airport
Terminal 1 in 2018
Annual (civil) passenger statistics for Perth Airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger statistics for Perth Airport[82]
YearDomesticInternationalTotalChange
1998 3,235,5241,434,0774,669,601Increase 2.6%
1999 3,257,0871,474,8984,731,985Increase 1.3%
2000 3,463,1221,580,6225,043,744Increase 6.6%
2001 3,341,8031,587,3794,929,182Decrease -2.3%
2002 3,371,3151,636,4225,007,737Increase 1.6%
2003 3,892,6231,586,6225,479,245Increase 9.4%
2004 4,437,2911,827,3896,264,680Increase 14.3%
2005 4,754,6722,007,0256,761,697Increase 7.9%
2006 5,429,8702,034,8777,464,747Increase 10.4%
2007 6,105,2462,373,5688,478,814Increase 13.6%
2008 6,705,1802,533,0229,238,202Increase 9.0%
2009 6,841,0372,774,7379,615,774Increase 4.1%
2010 7,319,8533,133,70910,453,562Increase 8.7%
2011 8,016,0323,349,46811,365,500Increase 8.7%
2012 8,999,5713,618,76812,618,339Increase 11.0%
2013 8,981,8723,919,84012,901,712Increase 2.2%
2014 8,758,5194,180,40712,938,926Increase 0.3%
2015 8,401,5324,192,83312,594,365Decrease -2.7%
2016 8,125,4864,379,17512,504,661Decrease -0.7%
2017 7,985,0654,385,46712,370,532Decrease -1.1%
2018 8,111,7484,365,97112,477,719Increase 0.9%
2019 8,150,3364,363,18012,513,516Increase 0.3%
2020 2,947,118978,9603,926,078Decrease -68.6%
2021 3,854,13890,6513,944,789Increase 0.5%
2022 6,539,2001,828,4188,367,618Increase 112.1%

Domestic

Busiest domestic routes into and out of Perth Airport (Year ending 31 December 2022)[83]
RankAirportPassengers % change
1Melbourne1,347,836Increase 415.5%
2Sydney1,118,846Increase 256.6%
3Brisbane737,276Increase 156.7%
4Karratha491,859Increase 16.9%
5Adelaide486,279Increase 52.6%
6Port Hedland448,166Increase 24.4%
7Broome392,148Increase 4.4%
8Newman341,794Increase 7.5%
9Kalgoorlie301,881Increase 18.5%
10Darwin149,938N/A

International

Afternoon lineup at Perth Airport (from front to back): Emirates Airbus A380, Scoot Boeing 787, Air New Zealand Boeing 787, Qatar Airways Boeing 777
Busiest international routes – Perth Airport (Year end 30 June 2023)[84]
RankAirportPassengers handled % Change
1Singapore1,139,747Increase 394.3%
2Denpasar682,796Increase 1,476.4%
3Kuala Lumpur394,744Increase 2,395.4%
4Dubai284,644Increase 344.3%%
5Doha275,009Increase 256.9%
6Auckland176,114Increase 356.3%
7London109,291Increase 1,140.8%
8Hong Kong62,799Increase 3143.8%
9Mauritius36,473Increase N/A
10Bangkok21,106Increase N/A

Ground transport

Road

Road access from the city to terminals T1 and T2 is via Tonkin Highway and Airport Drive, and to terminals T3 and T4 via Tonkin Highway, Dunreath Drive and Brearley Avenue, or via Great Eastern Highway and Fauntleroy Avenue.

Transperth operates route 292, a circular route connecting terminals T3 and T4 to Redcliffe railway station.[85] Transperth also operates route 37, a route connecting terminals T1 and T2 to Oats Street railway station, on the Armadale line.[86] A transfer bus also operates between the T1/T2 and T3/T4 terminal precincts. All terminals are serviced by a number of private charter bus operators that can normally be accessed through most major hotels in the city centre.

A number of car rental companies have set up operations at the airport, and all terminals feature pick-up and drop-off areas dedicated to taxis and rideshare services.

Rail

Situated about 250 metres (820 ft) from terminals T1 and T2, Airport Central Station provides access to underground commuter rail services on the Transperth network's Airport line. The station commenced operations on 9 October 2022. It is connected to terminal T1 via an enclosed pedestrian bridge.

The closest station to terminals T3 and T4 is Redcliffe Station, also on the Airport line, at a distance of about 980 metres (3,220 ft). Passengers for Terminals 3 and 4 can catch bus route 292, a circular service from Terminals 3 and 4 to Redcliffe Station.

Accidents and incidents

During construction

  • On 13 April 1987, a Hiller 12E helicopter was being used for the installation of a rotating beacon atop the control tower, then under construction. The beacon was attached to the helicopter for lifting by a chain sling. After the beacon had been lifted into place, workers disconnected the chain sling from it. As the helicopter was departing,

    The hook on the sling became snagged on the tower guard rail ... causing it to pitch nose down and roll to the right. With the cable being tensioned by the pull of the helicopter the hook freed itself [and sprang] while crashing the strike side of the tower towards the helicopter. The cable flew up around the tail boom and became entangled in one of the main rotor blades. The other main rotor blade severed the tail boom which fell free of the helicopter striking the side of the tower on its way to the ground. The major section of the helicopter then fell to the ground at the base of the tower, caught fire and was burnt out.[87]

    The accident resulted in the death of the helicopter pilot. The subsequent investigation conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Board, found that the pilot's licence was not endorsed for sling loading operations and he was not sufficiently current on the aircraft type to undertake such a job.[87]

Accidents en route

Emergency alternative airports

There are three emergency alternative airports for Perth, used usually in the case of fog or bad weather affecting Perth. In 2013, the state government flagged the need for a new emergency alternative airport, with Exmouth's Learmonth Airport and Adelaide Airport being inconvenient due to their significant distance from Perth.[88] In 2017, plans for Cunderdin Airport to become a diversion airport for Perth were put in place.[89] In 2018, it was proposed that Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport would be a better alternative than Cunderdin.[90] In 2019, Busselton Margaret River Airport had its bid to become a designated alternate international airport approved.[91]

Other incidents

In 2020, Perth airport staff parked heavy vehicles and heavy equipment in front of some Virgin Australia aircraft to prevent them from moving.[92][93]

Future development

Consolidation of terminals

The 2004 Perth Airport Master Plan aimed for the domestic and international terminals to be consolidated into a single terminal on the south-eastern side of the airfield by 2024.[94][95] The updated 2020 Perth Airport Master Plan included a major expansion and upgrade of Terminal 1 and the construction of a new terminal adjacent to house Qantas' operations as part of the consolidation plans, with an intended completion date set for 2025.[96]

However, the consolidation process faced protracted delays due to Qantas initially preferring to continue operating out of Terminals 3 and 4, a stance that drew criticism from both Perth Airport and the Western Australian state government.[97][98] Qantas' transfer to Terminal 1 had been initially set to be completed by late 2025, but was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting air travel.[97] Qantas had also cited a desire to upgrade and build out their current Perth hub in order to launch new international services before committing to a move to new facilities “over the long term”.[98]

In October 2023, it was reported that Qantas, Perth Airport and the Western Australian state government had come to an agreement for Qantas to move to a new terminal in the Airport Central precinct by 2030.[99]

Third runway

The construction of a new runway (03R/21L) is planned. The new runway will be 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) long and 45 metres (148 ft) wide, while running parallel to the existing main runway and located between Terminal 1 and Abernethy Road.[100] Although Perth Airport intends for the runway to open by 2028,[96] plans have been floated to begin construction earlier if demand is high enough.[101]

Other

Perth Airport have confirmed plans to construct a 250-room hotel and a multi-storey carpark next to Airport Central Station, in alignment with its terminal consolidation plans.[102][103]

Notes

  1. ↑ The General Aviation area of the western precinct at Perth Airport is about 700 metres (2,300 ft) north of terminals T3 and T4 which are planned to be moved to the eastern precinct for consolidation of all commercial air services around Airport Central Station.

References

  1. 1 2 "Airport Statistics". Perth Airport. 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. ↑ "Guide to Statutory Outgoings 2017–18" (PDF). Perth Airport. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "General aviation sites - Airport West". Perth Airport. 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022. There are three development-ready sites available for lease in the General Aviation area of the Airport West precinct. Offering prime airside access, they are suitable for hangars, charter or maintenance operations, catering facilities and other aviation-related use.
  4. ↑ "Movements at Australian Airports, 2017 Calendar Year Totals" (PDF). Airservices Australia. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Profile of Perth Int'l Airport". internationalairportreview.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Air passenger movements through capital city airports to 2025–26 (PDF) (Working Paper 72). Canberra, Australia: Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). May 2008. ISBN 978-1-921260-23-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Tillett, Andrew; Thomas, Geoffrey (17 October 2012). "Man racks up 21,000 complaints in crusade against aircraft noise". The West Australian. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  8. ↑ Law, Peter (18 January 2015). "Aircraft noise complaints double across Perth". PerthNow. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Aircraft Noise Impacts". City of Canning, Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "Guildford Hazelmere Local Area Plan" (PDF). City of Swan. 11 May 2015. p. 36. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "State Planning Policy 5.1 Land use planning in the vicinity of Perth Airport" (PDF). Department of Planning, Government of Western Australia. July 2015. p. 8. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Perth Airport 1944–1994, 50 Years of civil aviation. Mascot, New South Wales: Federal Airports Corporation. 1994. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2007.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Flamer, Gabriel (November 1962). My big brother – A First History of Perth Airport. Graylands, Western Australia: Graylands Teachers College. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2007.
  14. ↑ Airport gets new status The Herald 2 September 1952 page 3
  15. ↑ Now it is the Perth airport The Argus 14 March 1953 page 1
  16. ↑ Airport is named after City The West Australian 14 March 1953 page 3
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "20 Year Anniversary of Terminal 1 (International) – 1986 to 2006". Westralian Airports Corporation. 2006. p. 2. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  18. ↑ "Access road to new International Airport to be named Horrie Miller Drive in honour of WA pioneer aviator". The West Australian. 1 December 1984. p. 40.
  19. ↑ "Perth Tower". Airservices Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  20. ↑ "History". Perth Airport. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  21. ↑ Shareholders Perth Airport
  22. ↑ "Perth Airport celebrates 60th anniversary of first international service". Westralian Airports Corporation. 16 June 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  23. ↑ "A380 in emergency Perth landing". WAtoday. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  24. ↑ "Perth Airport worst in Australia, again". PerthNow. 17 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "Perth Airport awarded capital city airport of the year". Australian Aviation. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "ACCC rates Perth Airport Australia's best". www.perthairport.com.au. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "Airport redevelopment". Westralian Airports Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  28. ↑ Admin (29 March 2015). "Perth Airport starts $42m redevelopment project of Terminal 1 forecourt". Airport Technology. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "Perth Airport Unveils Its New Front Door". Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  30. ↑ Transforming The International Experience at official website. Accessed 16 May 2012.
  31. ↑ "Emirates brings A380 to WA". 15 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Emirates goes double-daily A380 with second superjumbo for Perth". Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  33. ↑ "New airport terminal 'world class'". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  34. ↑ Beattie, Fraser (16 July 2014). "Etihad opens flights from Perth to Abu Dhabir". Online. Business News. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Public Transport Link Option, 2014 Master Plan, Perth Airport". Westrailia Airports Corporation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  36. ↑ Joe Spagnolo (10 August 2014). "Perth Airport rail link to start in 2016 and be finished by 2020, says WA Premier Colin Barnett". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  37. ↑ "Joint media statement - All aboard as new METRONET Airport Line opens". Government of Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia. 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  38. ↑ "Skybridge to link Airport Central train station to Perth Airport". The West Australian. 25 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "QANTAS TO FLY NON-STOP PERTH TO LONDON". Qantas Newsroom. Qantas. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  40. ↑ "About Perth Airport". Westralian Airports Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  41. 1 2 "Rex named as preferred tenderer for two WA govt contracts". Australian Aviation. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  42. ↑ Flynn, David. "Qantas details new Perth Airport T3 'international terminal wing'". Executive Traveller. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  43. ↑ "Qantas Expands Lounge at Perth Airport". DomesticFlightAustralia.com.
  44. ↑ Perth Runway Extended Australian Transport April 1965 page 29
  45. 1 2 "Cross-runway at Perth Airport re-opens, A380 ready!" (Press release). Westralian Airports Corporation. 21 October 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
  46. 1 2 3 4 "About Perth Airport Meteorological Office". Bureau of Meteorology, Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 9 July 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  47. ↑ "Melbourne Centre". Airservices Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  48. ↑ "Public viewing area". Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  49. ↑ "Contact Us." Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Retrieved 20 May 2011. "Perth Regional Office Level 2, Hkew Alpha Building, 2 George Wiencke Drive, Perth Domestic Airport, WA 6105"
  50. ↑ "Driving Training and Education Centre". The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  51. ↑ "2015 – August". Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  52. ↑ "Route maps". Perth Airport. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  53. ↑ "AirAsia Expands Kuala Lumpur – Perth Service From March 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  54. ↑ "AirAsia X Resumes Auckland / Melbourne Service In Nov 2022". Aeroroutes. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  55. ↑ "Air Mauritius to resume Mauritius-Perth service in Nov-2022". Corporate Travel Community. 7 April 2022.
  56. ↑ "Airnorth Adds Perth – Alice Springs From late-March 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  57. 1 2 Liu, Jim. "Alliance Airlines opens reservation for Newman / Port Hedland service from late-Sep 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  58. ↑ "Where We Fly". www.allianceairlines.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  59. ↑ "ANA Will Return To Perth In October 2023". Flight Hacks. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  60. ↑ Thomas, Geoffrey (27 December 2018). "Lion Air Group's Batik Air reinstates Perth to Bali flights". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  61. ↑ "Batik Air to Launch New Direct Flight from Jakarta to Perth, Australia". Tempo.co. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  62. ↑ "BATIK AIR MALAYSIA SCHEDULES AUCKLAND LATE-AUGUST 2023 LAUNCH". Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  63. ↑ "China Eastern to reconnect Perth with Chinese mainland". Australian Aviation. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  64. 1 2 3 "Jetstar Expands Perth International Network From August 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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  66. ↑ "Sales and special deals – Jetstar". www.jetstar.com. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  67. ↑ "Nexus Airlines - Connecting Us". Nexus Airlines.
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  69. ↑ "Qantas cancels Darwin-London service". 4 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  70. ↑ "Qantas Adds Perth – Paris Nonstop Service From July 2024". AeroRoutes. 29 October 2023.
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  72. ↑ Kylie McLaughlin (26 June 2022). "Qantas non-stop flights from Perth to Rome take off: First non-stop flights from Australia to continental Europe". Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  73. ↑ "Qantas Flight Timetables". Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  74. ↑ "Rex Adds New Western Australia Routes from late-Feb 2016". Routesonline. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  75. ↑ "South African Airways Returns to Perth April 28". airlineratings. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  76. ↑ "Thai NS24 International Service Changes". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  77. ↑ "VIETJET ADDS ADELAIDE TO ITS NETWORK". airlineratings. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  78. ↑ "Vietnam Airlines Launches Ho Chi Minh to Perth route". VN Holidays. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  79. ↑ Cramsie, Elizabeth. "Virgin Australia expand with new routes". ABC News. Perth. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  80. ↑ freight.qantas.com - Freighter schedule retrieved 17 December 2022
  81. ↑ "W20/21 Freighters Route Map" (PDF). Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  82. 1 2 "Airport Traffic Data 1985 to 2022". Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  83. ↑ "Domestic airlines year ending December 2022". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
  84. ↑ "International Airline Activity—Time Series". bitre.gov.au. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  85. ↑ Route 292 timetable Transperth
  86. ↑ Route 37 timetable Transperth
  87. 1 2 Hiller UH12E, Perth WA, 13 April 1987: Investigation Number:198700097 at Aviation safety investigations & reports, Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 5 November 1987
  88. ↑ "First steps to second Perth airport". couriermail.com.au. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  89. ↑ Thomas, Geoffrey (4 February 2017). "$200m plan for backup WA airport". The West Australian. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  90. ↑ Watkinson, Neil (20 February 2018). "Kalgoorlie airport a better flight plan than Wheatbelt: MP". Kalgoorlie Miner. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  91. ↑ "Busselton Margaret River Airport designated as an international alternate airport". busseltonmail.com.au. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  92. ↑ https://www.airlineratings.com/news/airport-blocks-virgin-australia-plane-bulldozer/
  93. ↑ https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/perth-airport-blockades-virgin-aircraft-over-unpaid-debt-claims-20200424-p54n3m.html
  94. ↑ "2004 Airport Master Plan, Perth Airport". Westrailia Airports Corporation. p. 1. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  95. ↑ "2024 Passenger Facilities Development Plan, 2004 Master Plan, Perth Airport". Westrailia Airports Corporation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
  96. 1 2 "Perth Airport Master Plan 2020: Achieving Consolidation" (PDF). Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  97. 1 2 "Qantas accused of 'dawdling' over plans to relocate operations to Terminal 1 at Perth Airport". ABC News. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  98. 1 2 "Qantas stalls on shift to Perth's Airport Central". AFR. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  99. ↑ "Qantas to finally move to main Perth Airport hub". WA Today. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  100. ↑ The third runway Archived 31 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine at official website. Accessed 03 Jan 2015.
  101. ↑ Geoffrey Thomas (6 October 2017). "Perth Airport unveils $2.5b expansion plan". Perth Now. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  102. ↑ Hamish Hastie (3 May 2023). "Perth Airport confirms plans for hotel near terminals". WAToday. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  103. ↑ Geoffrey Thomas (13 November 2021). "Perth Airport to build first multi-storey carpark in a bid to solve congestion". The West. Retrieved 24 June 2023.

Further reading

  • McGrath, Tony (2020). In Western Skies: A Brief History of Commercial Aviation in Western Australia - The First Hundred Years. Carlisle, WA: Hesperian Press. ISBN 9780859058216.
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