Perth Airport (IATA: PER, ICAO: YPPH) is a domestic and international airport serving Perth, the capital and largest city of Western Australia. It is located in the suburb of Perth Airport and has, since 1997, been operated by Perth Airport Pty Ltd, a private company (formerly Westralia Airports Corporation Pty Ltd) under a 99-year lease from the Commonwealth Government.[3]:p 48 It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia[4] and services Australian and Indian Ocean destinations, as well as Johannesburg, South Africa; Auckland, New Zealand; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Guangzhou, China.
The airport has seen strong passenger growth in the last few years, primarily due to the state's prolonged mining boom and an increase in traffic from international low-cost carrier airlines. In the year ended June 2011, Perth Airport experienced passenger growth of 9.1 per cent internationally and 9.6 per cent domestically, resulting in an overall increase of 9.4 per cent was recorded.
The two domestic terminals are side by side and about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the Perth CBD, whilst the international terminal is 17 km (11 mi) from Perth. The domestic and international terminals are located separately, 11 kilometres apart. All aircraft arrive and depart on the same runway system.
In 2012, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a report rating the Perth Airport as the worst in Australia, as judged by airlines.[5] The same report rated it below satisfactory for the second year in a row.
Perth Airport with city centre behind, image taken from the
Darling Scarp looking west
Prior to the opening of the Perth Airport, civilian air services for the city were provided from airfields located in Maylands (in operation since 1924), as well as on the city's foreshore at Langley Park.[6] 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.[6]
Site selection and preparation of the original plans was undertaken by Mr N M Fricker of the Department of Civil Aviation.[7] 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.[6][7]
A plaque located on a roadside wall of the old International terminal remains in permanent memory of Scott:[7]
| “ |
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.[7] |
” |
|
—Text of roadside plaque in memory of John Scott.
|
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.[6] 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.[6] This was despite bitter protest from military authorities who felt civilian operations would undermine the defence and camouflage needs of the location.[6]
The move was agreed to by the government of the day, 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.[6] Using Douglas DC-3 aircraft, ANA flew the first commercial service from the aerodrome to Adelaide.[6] On 17 June 1944, Qantas made its inaugural flight to Ceylon via Exmouth using a modified Liberator bomber, arriving in Perth on 3 June 1944 having been released to the airline by the British Government.[6]
An
ANA DC-4 refueling at Perth Airport in 1955.
Full civilian operations at the Guildford Aerodrome commenced in 1944.[7] 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.[6]
The Guildford Aerodrome as it was then known was at best only a basic airfield.[6] 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.[6] The then Department of Civil Aviation inherited a large number of operating vehicles from the former military occupants, including an assortment of vehicles including "Blitz" wagons, Dodge command cars and weapon carriers, large trucks and various makes of fire tenders, jeeps and ambulances.[6] Boarding aircraft at Guildford was described as being a bit like boarding a bus given the lack of passenger facilities at the time.[6]
In 1948, the Horrie Miller owned MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co. (MMA) relocated from Maylands to Guildford.[6] 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.[6] 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.[6] Fresh fruits, vegetables, and manufactured goods were being flown from east to west and back again.
The airport only received international status and was renamed to Perth International Airport in 1952.[6] Officiated by the then 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 their passenger terminal.[6] At the time, a new international terminal building was under construction but had not been completed in time for the ceremony.[6] 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.[6]
It was also on this day that Qantas commenced its Wallaby service using the Constellation Charles Kingsford Smith" (VH-EAD) from Sydney to South Africa via Western Australia, the Cocos Islands, and Mauritius.[6]
Towards the mid-1950s, airline travel was still only being used by 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.[6]
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 50s from Perth to Singapore and the sub continent[6] the aircraft of the day grew faster and more demanding due to their sophistication, facilities at the airport continued to improve to accommodate them.[6] 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.[6] 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.[6]
In 1960, the current international terminal previously constructed from steel and cladding from Manus Island was dismantled and then re-erected in the suburb of Cannington.[6] Known as The Alco Building, it was re-designed for use as a commercial facility.[6]
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.[6] 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.[6][7] The new combined terminal was opened that same year by then Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Shane Paldridge; it was located in an area positioned between Terminals 2 and 3 and is currently used as the crew base for both Qantas and Skywest, and offices for airlines and support firms.[6][8]
From 1962 onwards, both the domestic and international passenger operations at the airport were provided by a single terminal.[8] However, by the arrival of the Boeing 747 on 3 September 1971, the existing terminal had reached its capacity, and modeling of future passenger numbers showed it would be unable to handle any further increases in passenger demand.[6][8]
In November 1980, the Federal Transport Minister, Ralph Hunt, announced that a new international terminal would be built in Perth at a cost of A$26 million (1980).[6] 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.[8] The project called for the construction of a new terminal, apron, airside roads, access roads, car parks and other passenger facilities.[8]
Construction of the new International Terminal and control tower commenced in March 1984 on the south-eastern side of the airfield.[8] In 1984, the road leading to the new terminal, Horrie Miller Drive was named in honour of local aviation pioneer Horrie Miller.[9] The terminal was officially opened on 25 October 1986 by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke, with the new terminal receiving passengers just days after.[6][8] The newly built control tower was the tallest in Australia at its time of construction, and remains to be the tallest in Australia.[10]
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.[8] 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.[8]
Perth Airport hosted its first Airbus A380 on 14 October 2008, when Qantas flew the aircraft into the airport.
In the late 1980s the Federal Government, as a prelude to eventual privatisation, formed the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC). In 1988, FAC took over as manager of Perth Airport (and many other Australian airports).[6]
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.[6]
In 2001, after the financial collapse of Ansett Airlines, 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 Strategic Airlines (traded as Air Australia).
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.[8] Further upgrades valued at $25 million (2006) were made to the terminal across 2005 and 2006 which added an additional 2,500 m² of floor space, additional check-in counters, and an improved baggage handling and screening system.[8]
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 B747, Airbus A340, and potentially the Airbus A380 to operate at the airport.[11]
On 11 October 2007, Perth International Airport received the first test flight out of Terminal 3 at Changi International Airport, Singapore. The test flight was a Singapore Airlines flight that departed Changi Airport at 5:30 pm, landing in Perth at 11:30 pm.
On 14 October 2008, the Airbus A380 made its first visit to the airport as a part of the 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 the Dubai to Sydney flight suffered a stroke.[12]
As of July 2011, Perth Airport is served by 37 scheduled airlines flying directly to 77 destinations. The following carriers operate to the following destinations:[13][14][15][16]
| Airlines |
Destinations |
Terminal |
| Air Mauritius |
Port Louis |
1 |
| Air New Zealand |
Auckland |
1 |
| AirAsia X |
Kuala Lumpur International |
1 |
| Airnorth |
Darwin, Kununurra |
2 |
| Alliance Airlines |
Barimunya, Coondewanna, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Leinster, Leonora, Mount Keith, Newman, Port Hedland, Telfer |
3 |
| Cathay Pacific |
Hong Kong |
1 |
| China Southern Airlines |
Guangzhou |
1 |
| Cobham |
Area C, Barrow Island, Brockman, Kambalda, Exmouth, Murrin Murrin, Ravensthorpe, Yandi |
2 |
| Emirates |
Dubai |
1 |
| Garuda Indonesia |
Denpasar, Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta |
1 |
| Indonesia AirAsia |
Denpasar |
1 |
| Jetstar Airways |
Denpasar, Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta, Singapore |
1 |
| Jetstar Airways |
Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney |
2 |
| Jetstar Asia Airways |
Singapore |
1 |
| Malaysia Airlines |
Kuala Lumpur International |
1 |
| Maroomba Airlines |
Mount Magnet |
3 |
| Network Aviation |
Bellevue, Busselton, Coyote, Leinster, Morawa, Mount Hale, Sinclair, Woodie Woodie |
3 |
| Qantas |
Hong Kong, Singapore |
1 |
| Qantas |
Adelaide, Brisbane, Broome, Canberra, Darwin, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Melbourne, Newman, Port Hedland, Sydney |
2 |
| QantasLink operated by Cobham |
Alice Springs, Uluru [ends 28th October 2012], Broome, Exmouth, Geraldton Airport, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland |
2 |
| Qatar Airways |
Doha [begins 3 July 2012][17] |
1 |
| Singapore Airlines |
Singapore |
1 |
| Skippers Aviation |
Burnakura, Darlot-Centenary, Carnarvon, Jundee, Kalbarri, Laverton, Lawlers, Leinster, Leonora, Meekatharra, Monkey Mia, Mount Magnet, Plutonic, Granny Smith, Sunrise Dam, Wiluna |
- |
| Skywest Airlines |
Denpasar |
1 |
| Skywest Airlines |
Albany, Argyle, Barimunya, Brockman, Broome, Busselton, Cloud Break, Derby, Darwin, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton Airport, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Melbourne, Newman, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland, Ravensthorpe, The Granites, West Angelas, Windarling |
3 |
| South African Airways |
Johannesburg |
1 |
| Thai Airways International |
Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Phuket |
1 |
| Tiger Airways |
Singapore |
1 |
| Tiger Airways Australia |
Melbourne |
3 |
| Virgin Australia |
Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Denpasar, Phuket |
1 |
| Virgin Australia |
Adelaide, Brisbane, Broome, Darwin, Karratha, Newman, Melbourne, Port Hedland, Sydney |
3 |
These airlines provide regular charters for mining companies in Western Australia:
The following airlines have codeshare agreements to Perth Airport:[18]
A Qantas A330-300 docked at Terminal 1. Terminals 2 and 3 are visible in the background.
International Terminal 1 arrivals area in the early morning.
Perth Airport has three main terminals and one minor terminal:[19]
- Terminal 1, the eastern international terminal caters for flights originating or departing outside Australia, with five jetways and a total of seven gates. It has also supported upstart domestic airlines such as Compass Airlines in the 1990s, and Virgin Australia from 2001–2002.
- The western domestic terminal is divided into two structures,
- Terminal 2, the Qantas terminal primarily dedicated to Qantas domestic operations, with four jetways and a total of nine gates. Domestic flights for Jetstar, and QantasLink as well as selected charter airlines operate from this terminal. It has one member lounge, The Qantas Club.
- Terminal 3, a multi-user domestic terminal (MUDT), formerly the Ansett terminal, now used by Skywest, Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines and Tiger Airways Australia domestic services, with four jetways and a total of seven gates. It currently has one lounge for Virgin Australia called The Lounge which utilises the former Ansett Golden Wing Club / Alliance Airlines Lounge.
- A northern general aviation terminal, used primarily by charter aircraft, mainly for mining companies as fly-in fly-out services to remote operations.
Flights are serviced by two runways – the main 03/21 runway, 3,444 m (11,299 ft) long and 06/24, 2,163 m (7,096 ft) long.
After a 10-month project, a reconstructed cross runway was opened on 21 October 2005.[20] The upgrades involved significant strengthening works and enlargement of turning nodes to accommodate regular operations by wide bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.[20]
Perth Airport provides the following on-field services:[19]
- Air freight;
- Aviation fuel;
- In-flight catering facilities;
- Air traffic control facilities; and[10]
- 24-hour rescue and fire fighting facilities.[21]
Meteorological services for Perth Airport commenced in May 1944, provided by the Guildford Meteorological Office situated at Ivy St, Redcliffe.[22]
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).[22] The Ivy Street location was retained for a time for radar services and the launching and tracking of weather balloons.[22] 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.[22]
Perth Airport resides within the Melbourne FIR, which is managed by Melbourne Centre and operated by Airservices Australia.[23]
Perth Approach Control then guides the aircraft to their final approach. Once an aircraft is established on its final approach, control is handed over to Perth Tower.
Road access to the domestic terminals from the CBD is via Great Eastern Highway and Brearley Ave. The international terminal access is via Tonkin Highway and Horrie Miller Drive. Both the domestic and international terminals are serviced by a number of private charter bus operators that can be normally accessed through most major CBD hotels.[24] The domestic terminal can be accessed by multiple regular public bus services operated by Transperth.[24] The airport is not currently serviced by rail, however the current airport master plan calls for the construction of rail services prior to 2024.[25]
Viewing platform on Dunreath Drive
There are two dedicated spotting areas at Perth Airport. The international terminal's Level 3 houses an Observation Deck to view departing and arriving aircraft. It has vending machines, toilets and FIDSs.
The second spotting area is to the west side of runway 03/21 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.[26]
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.[27]
Qantas Boeing 737 in Yanani Dreaming colours being prepared for departure from Terminal 2.
Total passengers using the airport has increased on average by 5.8% annually since 1998–99, with 70% of passenger traffic at the airport attributed to domestic travel.[4]
Annual passenger statistics for Perth Airport[4]
| Year |
Domestic |
International |
Total |
| 1998–99 |
3,222,957 |
1,453,914 |
4,676,871 |
| 1999–00 |
3,374,136 |
1,516,842 |
4,890,978 |
| 2000–01 |
3,554,930 |
1,607,385 |
5,162,315 |
| 2001–02 |
3,168,747 |
1,597,721 |
4,766,468 |
| 2002–03 |
3,615,822 |
1,573,543 |
5,189,365 |
| 2003–04 |
4,154,561 |
1,734,238 |
5,888,799 |
| 2004–05 |
4,579,101 |
1,945,686 |
6,524,787 |
| 2005–06 |
5,025,504 |
1,979,750 |
7,005,254 |
| 2006–07 |
5,785,370 |
2,191,721 |
7,977,091 |
| 2007–08 |
6,474,249 |
2,477,820 |
8,952,069 |
| 2008–09 |
6,759,279 |
2,599,969 |
9,359,248 |
| 2009–10 |
7,010,711 |
2,981,877 |
9,992,588 |
| 2010–11 |
7,644,447 |
3,245,081 |
10,889,528 |
Busiest Domestic Routes into and out of Perth Airport
(Year ending June 2011)[28]
| Rank |
Airport |
Passengers |
% Change |
Carriers |
| 1 |
Melbourne |
1,837,503 |
 04 !9.0 |
Jetstar, Qantas, Tiger Airways, Virgin Australia |
| 2 |
Sydney |
1,682,236 |
03 !10.3 |
Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| 3 |
Brisbane |
795,121 |
06 !8.7 |
Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| 4 |
Karratha |
615,689 |
05 !9.0 |
Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin Australia |
| 5 |
Adelaide |
596,732 |
 08 !-2.7 |
Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| 6 |
Port Hedland * |
339,246 |
10 !n/a |
Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin Australia |
| 7 |
Broome |
322,235 |
09 !-0.7 |
Qantas, QantasLink, Skywest, Virgin Australia |
| 8 |
Kalgoorlie |
237,076 |
02 !11.7 |
Qantas, Skywest |
| 9 |
Newman |
219,622 |
01 !20.6 |
Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin Australia |
| 10 |
Darwin |
147,197 |
07 !-2.9 |
Qantas, Virgin Australia |
- Port Hedland route included from August 200
Busiest International Routes out of Perth Airport (YE June 2011)[29]
| Rank |
Airport |
Passengers handled |
% Change |
| 1 |
10 ! Singapore, Singapore-Changi |
932,571 |
07 !1.2 |
| 2 |
04 ! Indonesia, Denpasar |
770,049 |
02 !17.7 |
| 3 |
08 ! Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur |
446,453 |
03 !10.0 |
| 4 |
05 ! United Arab Emirates, Dubai |
319,112 |
06 !4.9 |
| 5 |
06 ! Hong Kong, Hong Kong |
217,129 |
05 !6.9 |
| 6 |
01 ! New Zealand, Auckland |
129,929 |
04 !9.2 |
| 7 |
07 ! South Africa, Johannesburg |
121,151 |
09 !1.6 |
| 8 |
03 ! Thailand Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi |
109,877 |
08 !0.5 |
| 9 |
09 ! Thailand, Phuket |
50,950 |
01 !38.5 |
| 10 |
02 ! Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan |
50,459 |
10 !3.7 |
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 an external chain sling load.[30]
After the beacon was successfully lifted into place, the pilot then cleared the immediate area to enable workers to safely disconnect the chain sling before it could depart. Whilst disconnecting the beacon from the chain sling, a worker involved in the process slung the chain between two horizontal bars of the safety railing instead of placing it over the top railing .
It was when the chain sling was finally disconnected and the helicopter given permission to depart that this fatal mistake was discovered. When departing, the chain sling was now between two bars of the safety rail and as the helicopter gained lift, the chain link locked onto the safety railing effectively chaining the helicopter to the tower structure.
As a result, the chain jerked violently resulting in the helicopter pitching forward and losing control.[30] Whilst falling towards the ground, the roter blades connected with the eastern face of the tower structure, before impacting with the ground and bursting into flames.
The accident resulted in the death of the helicopter pilot, and subsequent loss of the airframe which was incinerated in the resulting fire,[30] fueled by ruptured fuel tanks.
In the subsequent investigation conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Board, it was found that:[30]
- the pilot of the helicopter was inexperienced,
- the operations performed by the aircraft were not adequately planned, and
- the pilot was not adequately current on the aircraft type flown.
Both the tower structure and surrounding bitumen bear the marks of the accident even today. Despite a memorial plaque being previously approved in memory of the incident, this has not as yet taken place.
On 2 September 1999, the number one engine of a Qantas Boeing 747, en route from Sydney Airport coming into land on Runway 06/24, struck the runway surface upon landing.[31] Originally, the plane had been destined to land on Runway 03/21. However, the pilot in command opted for a missed approach procedure after experiencing turbulence that rendered the aircraft unstable.[31]
After discussion with ATC and changes in wind conditions, the aircraft was then offered the use of Runway 06/24.[31] However, on commencement of touchdown, it experienced a roll to the right. This was corrected by the pilot, but the aircraft still touched down with a left-wing-low attitude causing the engine to strike the runway surface for a length of 30 m that commenced at 490 m from the runway threshold.[31]
The cause was determined to be prevailing weather conditions which often result in low-level turbulence, also known as wind shear, largely due to local geography, with rolling winds caused by the nearby Darling Scarp.[31] The incident has resulted in efforts to improve weather monitoring systems around the airport.[31]
On 2 July 1949 a Douglas DC-3, named Fitzroy, departed from Perth Airport for Carnarvon. Moments after takeoff it crashed about a mile north of the airport, killing all 18 people on board. It was Western Australia's worst civil aviation accident.
On 26 June 1950 a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, named Amana, departed from Perth Airport for Adelaide, South Australia. It crashed 22 minutes later, near York, Western Australia, killing 28 of the 29 occupants. The sole survivor died in a Perth hospital five days later. This accident and the TAA Fokker Friendship disaster remain Australia's worst civil aviation accidents.
From September 1968 Vickers Viscount VH-RMQ was operated out of Perth Airport by MacRobertson Miller Airlines. On 31 December 1968 VH-RMQ conducted Flight 1750 from Perth to Port Hedland. The aircraft broke up in flight and crashed 28 nautical miles short of its destination, killing all 26 people on board. This accident remains Australia's third worst civil aviation accident.
The 2024 Airport Masterplan[32] aims for the domestic and international terminals to be consolidated into a single terminal on the south-eastern side of the airfield sometime between 2021 to 2024.[33] At present, the international and domestic terminals are on opposite sides of the airfield and are not directly connected through a regular public transport passenger service. While it is possible to travel by road between the two terminals, it is approximately an 11 kilometre (7 mi) distance between the two locations by public roads.
The 2024 masterplan calls for the completion of a rail link[25] that will connect with the Midland Line between Bayswater Station and Ashfield Station at the Tonkin Highway. The proposed rail link will continue above ground along Tonkin Highway to Great Eastern Highway where it is believed to go underground along Brearley Avenue and to the terminals in operation at completion of the line. A rail link to the airport was originally proposed in the 1990s by nearby local government bodies, however the proposal was not followed through at the time.
In 2008, Westralia Airports announced their intention to complete a A$1 billion upgrade project which addresses key elements of the masterplan.[34] The announced plans will see the domestic and international terminal merge, as flagged within the original plans for the construction of the international terminal, a project likely to be completed within seven years.[34]
The first phase of the masterplan involves the delivery of a facility to be known as "Terminal WA" which is scheduled for completion by 2013.[34] The terminal is designed to serve as a facility for intrastate flights servicing regional Western Australia. Phases two and three of the works will see the merger of the domestic terminals into the international terminals. A proposed 40 additional aerobridges will be constructed, delivering capabilities to service larger airframes including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Construction commenced during late 2011, with combined works to deliver the new terminal valued at $120 million (2010).[35] Completion of the new terminal is expected during December 2012.[35] Skywest, Alliance Airlines and Tiger Airways will relocate to the new terminal in early 2013. This will significantly reduce activity in the domestic precinct, further improving the experience for Qantas and Virgin customers and facilitating continued growth for these airlines.
The new single story terminal has been designed to provide;[35]
- At-grade access to terminal building,
- 16 check-in counters, including space for self service and bag drop technologies,
- Centralised passenger security screening zone,
- Three baggage reclaim belts,
- Dedicated pick-up and drop-off lanes at the front of the terminal,
- 14 aircraft bays, accessible from enclosed walkways, and
- 36 additional aircraft paking bays.
Consideration of environmental needs has been planned into the building design, with systems including rainwater harvesting and re-use, and establishment of ventilation systems delivered below ground to reduce energy costs.[35]
Redevelopment of the international terminal has also commenced, scheduled for completion in 2014 at a cost of over $165 million.[36] The redevelopment will include an expanded check-in hall and a refurbished and spacious departure area.
- ^ YPPH – Perth (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 8 March 2012
- ^ Airport traffic data
- ^ Air passenger movements through capital city airports to 2025–26, Working Paper 72 of the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, May 2008
- ^ a b c Airport Traffic Data 1985-86 to 2010-11
- ^ "Perth Airport worst in Australia, again". PerthNow. May 17, 2012. http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/local-business/perth-airport-worst-in-australia-again/story-e6frg2s3-1226316344928.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Perth Airport 1944–1994, 50 Years of civil aviation. Mascot, New South Wales: Federal Airports Corporation. 1994. http://www.perthairport.com/default.aspx?MenuID=103.
- ^ a b c d e f Flamer, Gabriel (November 1962). My big brother — A First History of Perth Airport. Graylands, Western Australia: Graylands Teachers College. http://www.perthairport.com/default.aspx?MenuID=103.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "20 Year Anniversary of Terminal 1 (International) – 1986 to 2006". Westralian Airports Corporation. 2006. p. 2. http://www.perthairport.com/Default.aspx?MenuID=229. Retrieved 12 May 2007.
- ^ "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.
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