A multi-billion dollar expansion is the centerpiece of Perth’ Airport’s vision to cater for more than 30 million annual passengers by 2046.

Perth Airport has released the preliminary draft version of its latest 20-year masterplan.

Officially known as the Perth Airport Master Plan 2026, the document sets out a vision to enable the airport to cement its position as one of Western Australia’s most important assets.

Key aspects of the plan include:

  • Completion of a new 3km runway (set to become operational in 2028) that will run parallel to the existing main runway.
  • A new domestic terminal located to the east of an expanded T1 International terminal.
  • An expansion of Terminal 1 International terminal.
  • Further upgrades to Terminal 2.
  • Two new multi-storey car parks and road network improvements.
  • A new 237-room hotel to be operated by Accor.

The release of the vision comes as the airport faces significant challenges in catering for long-term requirements.

Over the 22 years between 2023/24 and 2045/46, the number of annual passengers for which the airport is expected to cater is forecast to almost double from just over 16 million to more than 30 million (30.8 million).

Over that time, the number of direct and indirect jobs which the airport supports will almost triple from 27,300 to 75,400.

The plan also comes as the airport currently faces severe capacity challenges during peak weekday periods. This sees airlines and passengers needing to endure long waits for available slots.

As a result, the proportion of flights which are delayed (arrivals and departures combined) almost doubled from 14.5 percent in 2017 to 28.5 percent in 2024.

If nothing is done, modelling indicates that by 2035, the average departing flight would be delayed by approximately 30 minutes during peak periods.

By this time, runways would be operating at capacity for twelve hours per day, with few viable slots for new services.

Central to the plan is a previously announced investment program to consolidate all commercial passenger services into a central precinct which is supported by a parallel runway system.

As things stand, the airport is currently split into two precincts: the main terminal on the eastern side of the main runway and Quantas and Jetstar domestic flights remaining stuck over the western side of the runway.

This means that passengers navigating between Qantas’ garden shed and the main airport currently endure an eight-kilometer bus ride.

The release of the plan comes after last year’s signing of a twelve-year agreement between Perth Airport and Qantas that will see the latter relocate its operations to the new terminal when it opens in 2031.

That agreement will see Qantas and Jetstar add an additional 4.4 million seats in annual capacity by that time.

Perth Airport CEO Jason Waters welcomed the plan’s release.

“Perth Airport is already a major generator of jobs and economic growth in Western Australia,” he said.

“When Perth Airport grows, the Western Australian economy grows.

“We have begun work on the largest private investment in infrastructure in Perth’s history which will be delivered over the course of this five-year plan.

“The time for talking is over. We are now delivering a once in a generation construction program that will completely change the face of Perth Airport and take Western Australia into the future.”

 

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