FAQS

No, Perth Airport is not operated by a government department.  In July 1997, Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC) took up a 99-year leasehold interest over Perth Airport as part of the first phase in the privatisation of airports in Australia, and has since operated the airport and its 2,105 hectare estate.

Perth Airport encompasses both the International and Domestic Terminals, which are on a 2,105 hectare estate.  Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC) has held the lease since 1997 over the entire estate and operates Terminal 1 (International) and Terminal 3 (Multi-User Domestic).  Qantas operates Terminal 2 (Qantas Domestic).

All aircraft movements occur on two runways located between the International and Domestic terminals.

WAC is also responsible the conversation and development of the land at Perth Airport.

In March 2005, Perth Airport’s various terminal buildings were renamed to make life easier for passengers and business partners.

The International Terminal Building was renamed Terminal 1, the Qantas Domestic Terminal, Terminal 2, and the Multi-User Domestic Terminal, Terminal 3. 

By using a simple numbering system for each terminal the airport is now consistent with the convention used by other multi-terminal airports around the world.

Perth Airport is the principal international, domestic and regional gateway to Western Australia for commercial aircraft and freight and is one of Australia's closest airports to South East Asia, Europe and Africa.

Perth Airport is Australia's fourth busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, and operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week throughout the year.

Only 12 kilometres from the heart of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, the airport is part of a 2,105 hectare estate with sufficient capacity to expand and meet the projected commercial aviation demand of the 21st century.

Of the 2,105 hectares, over 700 hectares is available for a wide range of non-aviation property development, providing the potential for the airport to become a major commercial and industrial centre.

In 2003, Economic Research Associates Pty Ltd studied the economic significance of Perth Airport to Western Australia’s economy.  The report estimated direct employment as approximately 5,960 jobs, with $342 million in direct salaries and wages.

In total, Perth Airport provides around 16,800 jobs for Western Australians, generating approximately $850 million in wages.

Perth Airport has two runways:

(1) The main runway 03/21 - 3,444 metres in length and 45 metres wide
(2) The cross-runway 06/24 - 2,163 metres in length and 45 metres wide.

Both runways can accommodate regular operations by wide-bodied aircraft, including the new Airbus A380.

A total of 1258 scheduled domestic and regional flights arrive and depart from Perth Airport each week.  On the international front, a total of 276 scheduled international flights arrive and depart from Perth Airport each week.

Over 2.5 million passengers travelled through Perth Airport in the 2007/08 financial year, up 14 per cent on the previous financial year.

Domestic and international passenger traffic grew by 13.6% and 13.1% respectively for the year.