Perth Airport
Encyclopedia
Perth Airport is an Australian domestic and international airport serving Perth
, the capital and largest city of Western Australia
. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport
.
It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia and plays a strategic role due to its location – servicing many Australian, Asian, and Indian Ocean destinations as well as Johannesburg
, South Africa and Dubai
, United Arab Emirates.
The airport has seen strong passenger growth in the last few years, primarily due to the prolonged mining boom and the increase in services from international budget carriers. In the first half of the financial year 2007/2008 passenger numbers increased by 13.34%
The two domestic terminals are side by side and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the Perth CBD, whilst the international terminal is 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) from the CBD.
The international terminal is on the opposite side of the main runway from the domestic terminals. The road distance between the international terminal and the domestic terminals is 11 kilometres.
The airport is located near major arterial roads, Great Eastern Highway
and Tonkin Highway
. The domestic terminal is also accessible from the city by public transport buses
, and transfers between terminals are available by use of an hourly inter-terminal transfer bus
or taxi
. Only passengers with proof on an ongoing ticket are allowed to use the inter-terminal transfer bus and bus fares may apply.
Perth Airport has recently announced a redevelopment plan that will facilitate the recent growth in passenger numbers. However, Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches, has confirmed that this redevelopment would only provide "C" class facilities, as defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For example, initially Perth Airport announced the installation of 45 aero-bridges, but have scaled this back to 25. The State Government has refused to enter into a funding agreement with Perth Airport, despite the former Premier of Western Australia, Alan Carpenter
, openly criticising the airport's chronic over crowding and sub-standard facilities.
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
. 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.
Site selection and preparation of the original plans was undertaken by Mr N M Fricker of the Department of Civil Aviation. 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.
A plaque located on a roadside wall of the old International terminal remains in permanent memory of Scott:
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
. 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. This was despite bitter protest from military authorities who felt civilian operations would undermine the defence and camouflage needs of the location.
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. Using Douglas DC-3
aircraft, ANA flew the first commercial service from the aerodrome to Adelaide. 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.
Full civilian operations at the Guildford Aerodrome commenced in 1944. 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.
The Guildford Aerodrome as it was then known was at best only a basic airfield. 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. 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. Boarding aircraft at Guildford was described as being a bit like boarding a bus given the lack of passenger facilities at the time.
In 1948, the Horrie Miller
owned MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co.
(MMA) relocated from Maylands to Guildford. followed by newly-formed government airline Trans Australia Airlines
(TAA) on 2 December of that same year, operating Douglas
C-54 Skymaster
s on its Perth — Melbourne — Sydney route. 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. 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. 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. At the time, a new international terminal building was under construction but had not been completed in time for the ceremony. 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
.
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
.
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 the aircraft of the day grew faster and more demanding due to their sophistication, facilities at the airport continued to improve to accommodate them. 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. 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
.
. Known as The Alco Building, it was re-designed for use as a commercial facility.
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. 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. 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.
From 1962 onwards, both the domestic and international passenger operations at the airport were provided by a single terminal. 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.
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). 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. The project called for the construction of a new terminal, apron, airside roads, access roads, car parks and other passenger facilities.
Construction of the new International Terminal and control tower commenced in March 1984 on the south-eastern side of the airfield. In 1984, the road leading to the new terminal, Horrie Miller Drive was named in honour of local aviation pioneer Horrie Miller
. The terminal was officially opened on 25 October 1986 by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke
, with the new terminal receiving passengers just days after. The newly built control tower was the tallest in Australia at its time of construction, and remained so for a number of years.
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. 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.
(FAC). In 1988, FAC took over as manager of Perth Airport (and many other Australian airports).
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.
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 Alliance Airlines
and Strategic Airlines
(soon to be 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. 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.
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.
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.
Perth Airport has three main terminals and one minor terminal:
Flights are serviced by two runways – the main 03/21 runway, 3444 m long and 06/24, 2163 m long.
.
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). The Ivy Street location was retained for a time for radar services
and the launching and tracking of weather balloon
s. 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.
has its Perth regional office on Level 2 of the Hkew Alpha Building on the property of Perth Domestic Airport.
* Darwin route became competitive from May 2009, Port Hedland route included from August 2009, Karratha route included from October 2008, Newman route included from October 2008
|}
, which is managed by Melbourne Centre and operated by Airservices Australia.
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.
aircraft, Perth Airport would be ideally positioned to serve as a hub for Europe-Australia flights – the so called Kangaroo route
. Due to the ability for increased flight distances, carriers would be able to bypass historical stopovers in locations such as Bangkok
, Kuala Lumpur
or Singapore
, instead flying directly from Perth to major European airports. The state government and airport administrators have stated it as a goal to make Perth attractive for this, and have plans to upgrade the airport to accommodate the larger aircraft and passenger numbers. The currently used Airbus A340
-500 and Boeing 777-200LR both have a range long enough to go from London to Perth. However, neither British Airways
nor Qantas appears to have an interest in such a direct route at this time.
After a 10-month project, a reconstructed cross runway was opened on 21 October 2005. The upgrades involved significant strengthening works and enlargement of turning nodes to accommodate regular operations by wide bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.
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. This event demonstrated the airport's capability to handle a full A380.
The 2024 masterplan calls for the completion of a rail link 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.
As of May 2007, Airport Management have increased discussion about bringing forward the timelines for completion of the master plan objectives. Primary reasons for this are the significant increases in domestic passenger traffic, brought about by increased mining activities in the state's north west region. Current statements by the Airport's management suggest that a majority of the master plan objectives including the consolidation of the domestic and international terminals on the southern side of the airfield may be planned as early as 2011.
In August 2007, Qantas
announced that it was preparing to commit $50 million for upgrades to its domestic terminal. These plans would include the addition of three check in desks, one additional jetway
, general renovations and security improvements. Airport owner Westralia Airports Corporation also announced their intent to undertake works valued at $20 million, that would include the delivery of 1300 new parking bays, as well as improved road access to terminals two and three. These upgrades are planned for a life of five years, by which both Qantas and the airport owner hope to have completed construction of new terminal facilities identified within the master plan.
In 2008, Westralia Airports has announced their intention to complete a A$1 billion upgrade project which addresses key elements of the masterplan. 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 7 years.
The first phase involves the delivery of a facility known as Terminal WA, scheduled to be completed by 2011. This terminal is designed to serve as a facility for Intrastate flights servicing regional Western Australia. Earthworks are already well underway, with Perth Airport releasing its final draft plan in November 2008. The facility will be equipped with 20 gates, some of which may be aerobridges if the need warrants them. Other features include 4 baggage carousels, a cafe, numerous retailers, and a concourse to the future consolidated Domestic and International terminal. Terminal WA will relieve pressure on the existing Terminals 2 and 3. Already to assist this, improved road links between the international (T1) and domestic terminals (T2, T3, General aviation) are already under construction.
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.
The new single story terminal has been designed to provide;
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.
Construction is planned to commence during the last week of August 2011, with combined works to deliver the new terminal valued at AUD
120 million (2010). Completion of the new terminal is expected during December 2012. and Skywest, Alliance Airlines, Strategic 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.
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. The domestic terminal can be accessed by multiple regular public bus services operated by Transperth
. The airport is not currently serviced by Rail, however the current airport master plan calls for the construction of rail services prior to 2024.
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.
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 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. 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, fueled by ruptured fuel tanks.
In the subsequent investigation conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Board, it was found that:
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.
Boeing 747
, en route from Sydney Airport
coming into land on Runway 06/24, struck the runway surface upon landing. 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.
After discussion with ATC and changes in wind conditions, the aircraft was then offered the use of Runway 06/24. 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.
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
. The incident has resulted in efforts to improve weather monitoring systems around the airport.
, 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.
There have been two separate and unrelated significant incidents where airliners en route to the airport have suffered accidents, and two recent emergency landings.
The first was British Airways Flight 9
which was en route to the airport on 24 June 1982, had volcanic ash sucked into its engines and sustained engine fires. The aircraft was diverted and landed safely in Jakarta, Indonesia. No one was injured, but the aircraft was significantly damaged.
The second was Qantas Flight 72
, an Airbus A330
-300 inbound from Singapore
on 7 October 2008. The aircraft rapidly lost altitude causing 74 passengers and crew to sustain injuries after being thrown up towards the cabin ceiling. The pilots made an emergency landing
at Learmonth Airport in northern Western Australia with the aircraft sustaining no damage to the airframe.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the capital and largest city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The airport itself is located in the suburb of Perth Airport
Perth Airport, Western Australia
Perth Airport is an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Areas are the City of Belmont, the City of Swan and the Shire of Kalamunda . It is located approximately 12 km east of the Perth CBD....
.
It is the fourth busiest airport in Australia and plays a strategic role due to its location – servicing many Australian, Asian, and Indian Ocean destinations as well as Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates.
The airport has seen strong passenger growth in the last few years, primarily due to the prolonged mining boom and the increase in services from international budget carriers. In the first half of the financial year 2007/2008 passenger numbers increased by 13.34%
The two domestic terminals are side by side and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the Perth CBD, whilst the international terminal is 17 kilometres (10.6 mi) from the CBD.
The international terminal is on the opposite side of the main runway from the domestic terminals. The road distance between the international terminal and the domestic terminals is 11 kilometres.
The airport is located near major arterial roads, Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
and Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway, at , is a limited access dual carriageway in Perth, Western Australia, connecting Reid Highway in the north with Thomas Road in the south. Mostly a 4 lane highway, some sections of the highway are to a 4 to 6 lane freeway standard; the remainder of the highway has been designed to...
. The domestic terminal is also accessible from the city by public transport buses
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
, and transfers between terminals are available by use of an hourly inter-terminal transfer bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
or taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
. Only passengers with proof on an ongoing ticket are allowed to use the inter-terminal transfer bus and bus fares may apply.
Perth Airport has recently announced a redevelopment plan that will facilitate the recent growth in passenger numbers. However, Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches, has confirmed that this redevelopment would only provide "C" class facilities, as defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For example, initially Perth Airport announced the installation of 45 aero-bridges, but have scaled this back to 25. The State Government has refused to enter into a funding agreement with Perth Airport, despite the former Premier of Western Australia, Alan Carpenter
Alan Carpenter
Alan John Carpenter is a former Australian politician. He was the 28th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 2006 to 2008. He took office following the resignation of Dr Geoff Gallop...
, openly criticising the airport's chronic over crowding and sub-standard facilities.
Early days
Maylands, Western Australia
Maylands is a suburb located approximately northeast of Perth centred on the Midland railway line and located on the northern bank of the Swan River....
(in operation since 1924), as well as on the city's foreshore at Langley Park
Langley Park, Western Australia
Langley Park is an open space in the central business district of Perth, Western Australia. Running alongside Riverside Drive, it is grassed, rectangular in shape and has dimensions 900 x 100 m...
. 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.
Site selection and preparation of the original plans was undertaken by Mr N M Fricker of the Department of Civil Aviation. In 1938, land was selected and purchased for the new aerodrome. The site selected in what was at the time Guildford
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
, was an area of land granted by Governor James Stirling
James Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
to local man John Scott, which later became the long disused Dunreath Golf Course.
A plaque located on a roadside wall of the old International terminal remains in permanent memory of Scott:
Military operations
Even before civil aviation operations could commence at the new site, the onset of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
saw the facility being redesigned for military purposes as a temporary base for the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
and United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, known as "RAAF Station Guildford", primarily to supplement RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
. Royal Australian Air Force No. 85 Squadron
No. 85 Squadron RAAF
No 85 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron which provided air defence to Western Australia during World War II. It was formed in 1943 and disbanded in 1945. The squadron did not see combat during the war, although it attempted to intercept Japanese aircraft on several...
was based there from February 1943.
Despite military use of the airfield, civil services operated by Qantas Empire Airways
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and Australian National Airways (ANA) commenced from the location in 1944. This was despite bitter protest from military authorities who felt civilian operations would undermine the defence and camouflage needs of the location.
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. Using Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
aircraft, ANA flew the first commercial service from the aerodrome to Adelaide. On 17 June 1944, Qantas made its inaugural flight to Ceylon via Exmouth
Exmouth, Western Australia
-Further reading:* Western Australia. Ministry for Planning. Exmouth-Learmonth structure plan. Perth, W.A. : Western Australian Planning Commission...
using a modified Liberator bomber, arriving in Perth on 3 June 1944 having been released to the airline by the British Government.
Early civilian operations
Jandakot Airport
Jandakot Airport is an Australian general aviation airport located in Jandakot, Western Australia. Jandakot airport opened in 1963. From 1 July 1998, Jandakot Airport Holdings purchased a 50-year lease with a 49-year option to operate and maintain the airport including its conservation...
the very next day.
The Guildford Aerodrome as it was then known was at best only a basic airfield. 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. 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. Boarding aircraft at Guildford was described as being a bit like boarding a bus given the lack of passenger facilities at the time.
In 1948, the Horrie Miller
Horrie Miller (aviator)
Horace Clive "Horrie" Miller OBE was a pioneer Australian aviator and co-founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines .Miller was born in Ballarat, Victoria....
owned MacRobertson Miller Aviation Co.
MacRobertson Miller Airlines
MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. , callsign "Miller", IATA code "MV", was established in Australia in late 1927, by pilot Horrie Miller with the backing of chocolate millionaire Sir Macpherson Robertson....
(MMA) relocated from Maylands to Guildford. followed by newly-formed government airline Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
(TAA) on 2 December of that same year, operating Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
C-54 Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
s on its Perth — Melbourne — Sydney route. Due to the lack of road transportation across the Nullarbor Plain
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
, it was at this time that Guildford became the scene of very busy cargo operations. 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. 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. At the time, a new international terminal building was under construction but had not been completed in time for the ceremony. 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
Manus Island
Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands. It is the fifth largest island in Papua New Guinea with an area of 2,100 km², measuring around 100 km × 30 km. According to the 2000 census, Manus Island had a...
.
It was also on this day that Qantas commenced its Wallaby service using the Constellation Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
" (VH-EAD) from Sydney to South Africa via Western Australia, the Cocos Islands, and Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
The jet age
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.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 the aircraft of the day grew faster and more demanding due to their sophistication, facilities at the airport continued to improve to accommodate them. By the mid 1960s the airport commenced seeing its first domestic pure jet engine aircraft, commencing with a Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
in 1964, and the Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
DC-9 in 1967, both types operated by TAA and Ansett ANA. 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
Red-eye flight
A red-eye flight is any flight departing late at night and arriving early the next morning. The term red-eye derives from the fatigue symptom of having red eyes, which can be caused or aggravated by late-night travel....
.
Demise of the hangar terminals
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 CanningtonCannington, Western Australia
Cannington is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Canning.-History:Cannington's name derives from the Canning River, which forms part of the southwestern boundary of the suburb...
. Known as The Alco Building, it was re-designed for use as a commercial facility.
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. 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
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
traffic increases. 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.
International terminal development
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
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.
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$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
26 million (1980). 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. The project called for the construction of a new terminal, apron, airside roads, access roads, car parks and other passenger facilities.
Construction of the new International Terminal and control tower commenced in March 1984 on the south-eastern side of the airfield. In 1984, the road leading to the new terminal, Horrie Miller Drive was named in honour of local aviation pioneer Horrie Miller
Horrie Miller (aviator)
Horace Clive "Horrie" Miller OBE was a pioneer Australian aviator and co-founder of MacRobertson Miller Airlines .Miller was born in Ballarat, Victoria....
. The terminal was officially opened on 25 October 1986 by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, with the new terminal receiving passengers just days after. The newly built control tower was the tallest in Australia at its time of construction, and remained so for a number of years.
Upon completion, the terminal was able to process up to five Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
aircraft per hour and accommodated a peak passenger volume of 6,000 passengers per hour. 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.
1988 onwards
In the late 1980s the Federal Government, as a prelude to eventual privatisation, formed the Federal Airports CorporationFederal Airports Corporation
The Federal Airports Corporation was a business enterprise of the Government of Australia responsible for the operation of major passenger airports in Australia. At the beginning of 1997 the corporation operated 22 airports and handled over 60 million passenger annually.It was established by an...
(FAC). In 1988, FAC took over as manager of Perth Airport (and many other Australian airports).
At this time also, airline operators Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
and Ansett
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
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.
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 Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines is a charter airline based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It specialises in long-term contract charter to the mining and resources industry and governments in Australia, as well as ad-hoc charter operations and aircraft leasing to international airlines...
and Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines
Strategic Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as Air Australia Airways is a scheduled passenger and charter airline with its head office in Hendra, Brisbane, Australia,...
(soon to be 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. 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.
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
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, Airbus A340
Airbus A340
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
, and potentially the Airbus A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
to operate at the airport.
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
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
flight that departed Changi Airport at 5:30 pm, landing in Perth at 11:30 pm.
Airlines and destinations
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:Cargo
Charter and mining airlines
These airlines provide regular charters for mining companies in Western Australia.- Air Australia
- AvWest
- Cobham
- Maroomba AirlinesMaroomba AirlinesNantay Pty. Ltd., trading as Maroomba Airlines, is a small airline and air charter company based in Western Australia. Founded in 1985, the airline operates regular passenger services to Mount Magnet as well as-hoc charter services around Western Australia....
- Network AviationNetwork AviationNetwork Aviation is an airline based at Perth Airport, operating air charter services in support of "fly-in fly-out" mining operations throughout Western Australia...
- Skippers AviationSkippers AviationSkippers Aviation is an airline based in Osborne Park, a suburb of Perth. It is a charter company specialising in mining crew changes, executive charters and general flying for the mining industry in Western Australia, as well as search and rescue and medevac operations. It was established and...
- Skywest AirlinesSkywest AirlinesSkywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
- Star Aviation
- Casair
Codeshare airlines
The following airlines have codeshare agreements to Perth Airport:| Air Canada Air Canada Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a... Air France Air France Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance... Alitalia Alitalia Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. , in its later stages known as Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. in Extraordinary Administration, was the former Italian flag carrier... American Airlines American Airlines American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport... Austrian Airlines Austrian Airlines Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates... British Airways British Airways British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations... Finnair Finnair Finnair Plc is the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, with its headquarters on the grounds of Helsinki Airport in Vantaa, Finland, and its main hub at Helsinki Airport. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both the domestic and international air travel markets in Finland. The largest... |
Japan Airlines Japan Airlines is an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport... KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V., operating under the name KLM Royal Dutch Airlines , is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands and is part of Air France-KLM... Lufthansa Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating... Jet Airways Jet Airways Jet Airways is a major Indian airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India's largest airline and the market leader in the domestic sector. It operates over 400 flights daily to 76 destinations worldwide. Its main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with secondary hubs at Delhi,... United Airlines United Airlines United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental... Virgin Atlantic Airways Virgin Atlantic Airways Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is a British airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines... |
Facilities and services
- Terminal 1, the eastern international terminal caters for flights originating or departing outside Australia, with five jetways and a total of seven gatesGate (airport)A gate in aviation is a long, movable, "bridge" that allows passengers to embark and disembark their aircraft.* Jetway bridges* Air stairs, either built into the aircraft or from a mobile vehicle* Mobile lounges...
. It has also supported upstart domestic airlines such as Compass AirlinesCompass Airlines (Australia)Compass Airlines operated in Australia for two brief periods in the early 1990s. The two incarnations of the airline were quite separate with different management and aircraft.-History:...
in the 1990s, and Virgin Australia from 2001–2002. - The western domestic terminal is divided into two structures,
- Terminal 2, the QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
terminal primarily dedicated to Qantas domestic operations, with four jetways and a total of nine gates. Domestic flights for JetstarJetstar AirwaysJetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
, and QantasLinkQantasLinkQantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
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 SkywestSkywest AirlinesSkywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
, Virgin Australia, Alliance AirlinesAlliance AirlinesAlliance Airlines is a charter airline based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It specialises in long-term contract charter to the mining and resources industry and governments in Australia, as well as ad-hoc charter operations and aircraft leasing to international airlines...
and Tiger Airways AustraliaTiger Airways AustraliaTiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
domestic services, with two 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.
- Terminal 2, the Qantas
- A northern general aviation terminal, used primarily by charter aircraft, mainly for mining companies as fly-in fly-outFly-in fly-outFly-in fly-out is a method of employing people in remote areas. It is often abbreviated to FIFO when referring to employment status. This is common in large mining states in Australia...
services to remote operations.
Flights are serviced by two runways – the main 03/21 runway, 3444 m long and 06/24, 2163 m long.
Airfield and airside services
Perth Airport provides the following on-field services:- Air freight;
- Aviation fuel;
- In-flight catering facilities;
- Air traffic control facilities; and
- 24-hour rescue and fire fighting facilities.
Meteorological services
Meteorological services for Perth Airport commenced in May 1944, provided by the Guildford Meteorological Office situated at Ivy St, RedcliffeRedcliffe, Western Australia
Redcliffe is a suburb of Perth and is located within the City of Belmont local government area.The story of its name is ambiguous: while some claim it was named after steep red clay deposits that lined the banks of the Swan River when settlers first arrived, others claim that it was named after the...
.
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). The Ivy Street location was retained for a time for radar services
Weather radar
Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, estimate its type . Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the...
and the launching and tracking of weather balloon
Weather balloon
A weather or sounding balloon is a balloon which carries instruments aloft to send back information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity and wind speed by means of a small, expendable measuring device called a radiosonde...
s. 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
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
, in the north-eastern corner of the airfield.
Other services
The Australian Transport Safety BureauAustralian Transport Safety Bureau
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is Australia’s national transport safety investigator. The ATSB is the federal government body responsible for investigating transport-related accidents and incidents within Australia. It covers air, sea and rail travel. The Australian Transport Safety...
has its Perth regional office on Level 2 of the Hkew Alpha Building on the property of Perth Domestic Airport.
Operations and statistics
Total
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.| Year | Domestic Passengers | International Passengers | Total Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 3,264,459 | 1,537,325 | 4,801,784 |
| 1999–00 | 3,385,825 | 1,599,485 | 4,985,310 |
| 2000–01 | 3,560,565 | 1,660,275 | 5,220,840 |
| 2001–02 | 3,160,085 | 1,651,069 | 4,811,154 |
| 2002–03 | 3,720,237 | 1,612,508 | 5,332,745 |
| 2003–04 | 4,272,187 | 1,766,617 | 6,038,804 |
| 2004–05 | 4,678,976 | 1,977,163 | 6,656,139 |
| 2005–06 | 5,107,657 | 2,027,223 | 7,134,880 |
| 2006–07 | 5,868,219 | 2,221,204 | 8,089,423 |
| 2007–08 | 6,650,000 | 2,510,000 | 9,160,000 |
| 2008–09 | 7,116,194 | 2,618,923 | 9,735,117 |
| 2009–10 | 7,469,926 | 2,993,874 | 10,463,800 |
| 2010–11 | 8,185,872 | 3,265,581 | 11,451,453 |
Domestic
| Rank | Airport | Passengers (Thousands) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the... |
1,702.0 | 2.4 |
| 2 | Sydney Airport Sydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
1,591.4 | 9.8 |
| 3 | Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area... |
744.6 | 3.8 |
| 4 | Adelaide Airport | 595.3 | 4.8 |
| 5 | Karratha Airport Karratha Airport Karratha Airport is an airport in Karratha, Western Australia. The airport is 14 km from Karratha and 8 km from Dampier. The airport was opened in December 1983, and upgraded in 1998. The Karratha Airport is the second busiest Airport in Western Australia with Perth Airport being the busiest... * |
578.5 | N/A |
| 6 | Broome Airport | 326.1 | 1.7 |
| 7 | Port Hedland Airport * | 322.9 | N/A |
| 8 | Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport is an airport in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The airport is 7 km from the town center.In November 2007, Skywest Airlines attempted a three times weekly direct service from Kalgoorlie to Melbourne, which failed due to lack of patronage. This service has since been... |
221.8 | 8.2 |
| 9 | Newman Airport Newman Airport Newman Airport is an airport near Newman, Western Australia. Situated 11 km from the town centre, it is the most ready form of transport between Perth and Newman.... * |
192.0 | N/A |
| 10 | Darwin International Airport Darwin International Airport Darwin International Airport is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin.... * |
149.3 | N/A |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the... |
145,400 | 1.8 |
| 2 | Sydney Airport Sydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
139,600 | 19.0 |
| 3 | Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area... |
65,000 | 3.2 |
| 4 | Karratha Airport Karratha Airport Karratha Airport is an airport in Karratha, Western Australia. The airport is 14 km from Karratha and 8 km from Dampier. The airport was opened in December 1983, and upgraded in 1998. The Karratha Airport is the second busiest Airport in Western Australia with Perth Airport being the busiest... |
50,500 | 4.1 |
| 5 | Adelaide Airport | 48,500 | 10.5 |
| 6 | Broome Airport | 30,800 | 1.1 |
| 7 | Port Hedland Airport | 29,200 | 27.1 |
| 8 | Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport is an airport in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The airport is 7 km from the town center.In November 2007, Skywest Airlines attempted a three times weekly direct service from Kalgoorlie to Melbourne, which failed due to lack of patronage. This service has since been... |
20,200 | 14.4 |
| 9 | Newman Airport Newman Airport Newman Airport is an airport near Newman, Western Australia. Situated 11 km from the town centre, it is the most ready form of transport between Perth and Newman.... |
18,200 | 18.5 |
| 10 | Darwin International Airport Darwin International Airport Darwin International Airport is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin.... |
13,700 | 3.4 |
* Darwin route became competitive from May 2009, Port Hedland route included from August 2009, Karratha route included from October 2008, Newman route included from October 2008
International
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site.... |
921,585 | 1.6 |
| 2 | Ngurah Rai International Airport | 633,978 | 96.1 |
| 3 | Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur... |
402,044 | 41.0 |
| 4 | Dubai International Airport Dubai International Airport Dubai International Airport is an international airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai. It is situated in the Al Garhoud district, southeast of Dubai... |
303,359 | 1.6 |
| 5 | Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
202,072 | 6.2 |
| 6 | Johannesburg International Airport Johannesburg International Airport OR Tambo International Airport is a large airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa, near the city of Johannesburg. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to/from South Africa and is Africa's busiest airport with a capacity handle up to 28,000,000... |
123,131 | 8.7 |
| 7 | Auckland Airport | 118,013 | 5.1 |
| 8 | Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September... (Bangkok) |
109,342 | 7.8 |
| 9 | Brunei International Airport Brunei International Airport Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport... |
52,381 | 13.8 |
| 10 | Tokyo Narita Airport | 39,064 | 100.0 |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site.... |
77,863 | 2.0 |
| 2. | Ngurah Rai International Airport | 69,295 | 21.5 |
| 3. | Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur... |
40,195 | 10.1 |
| 4. | Dubai International Airport Dubai International Airport Dubai International Airport is an international airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai. It is situated in the Al Garhoud district, southeast of Dubai... |
27,683 | 4.1 |
| 5. | Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
17,686 | 0.1 |
| 6. | Auckland Airport | 12,214 | 28.3 |
| 7. | OR Tambo International Airport | 10,840 | 15.5 |
| 8. | Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September... (BKK) |
10,399 | 6.5 |
| 9. | Phuket Airport | 4,086 | 104.1 |
| 10. | Tokyo Narita Airport | 3,976 |
|}
Landing patterns and approach
Perth Airport resides within the Melbourne FIRFlight Information Region
In aviation a flight information region is a region of airspace with specific dimensions, in which a flight information service and an alerting service are provided. It is the largest regular division of airspace in use in the world today....
, which is managed by Melbourne Centre and operated by Airservices Australia.
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.
Introduction of the Airbus A380
It has been suggested that with the introduction of the Airbus A380Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
aircraft, Perth Airport would be ideally positioned to serve as a hub for Europe-Australia flights – the so called Kangaroo route
Kangaroo route
The Kangaroo Route traditionally refers to air routes flown by Qantas between the countries of Australia and the United Kingdom, via the Eastern Hemisphere. The term is trademarked by Qantas, although it is used in the media and by airline competitors....
. Due to the ability for increased flight distances, carriers would be able to bypass historical stopovers in locations such as Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport , or KLIA serves the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and is one of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It is also Malaysia's main international airport. It is situated in the Sepang district, in the south of the state of Selangor, about from Kuala Lumpur...
or Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
, instead flying directly from Perth to major European airports. The state government and airport administrators have stated it as a goal to make Perth attractive for this, and have plans to upgrade the airport to accommodate the larger aircraft and passenger numbers. The currently used Airbus A340
Airbus A340
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
-500 and Boeing 777-200LR both have a range long enough to go from London to Perth. However, neither British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
nor Qantas appears to have an interest in such a direct route at this time.
After a 10-month project, a reconstructed cross runway was opened on 21 October 2005. The upgrades involved significant strengthening works and enlargement of turning nodes to accommodate regular operations by wide bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380.
On 14 October 2008, the Airbus A380 made its first visit to the airport as a part of the Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
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. This event demonstrated the airport's capability to handle a full A380.
2024 Airport Masterplan
The 2024 Airport Master Plan 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. 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 that will connect with the Midland Line between Bayswater Station
Bayswater railway station, Perth
Bayswater Station is a Transperth railway station located north-east of Perth railway station, Western Australia, on the Midland Line.-History:...
and Ashfield Station
Ashfield railway station, Perth
Ashfield is a Transperth railway station located north-east of Perth railway station, Western Australia, on the Midland Line.-History:The station opened as a signal box named Cresco in 1930, with passenger facilities provided in 1954. The signal box remain until 1964.-Platforms:-Bus...
at the Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway, at , is a limited access dual carriageway in Perth, Western Australia, connecting Reid Highway in the north with Thomas Road in the south. Mostly a 4 lane highway, some sections of the highway are to a 4 to 6 lane freeway standard; the remainder of the highway has been designed to...
. The proposed rail link will continue above ground along Tonkin Highway to Great Eastern Highway
Great Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
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.
As of May 2007, Airport Management have increased discussion about bringing forward the timelines for completion of the master plan objectives. Primary reasons for this are the significant increases in domestic passenger traffic, brought about by increased mining activities in the state's north west region. Current statements by the Airport's management suggest that a majority of the master plan objectives including the consolidation of the domestic and international terminals on the southern side of the airfield may be planned as early as 2011.
In August 2007, Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
announced that it was preparing to commit $50 million for upgrades to its domestic terminal. These plans would include the addition of three check in desks, one additional jetway
Jetway
A jet bridge is an enclosed, movable connector which extends from an airport terminal gate to an airplane, allowing passengers to board and disembark without having to go outside...
, general renovations and security improvements. Airport owner Westralia Airports Corporation also announced their intent to undertake works valued at $20 million, that would include the delivery of 1300 new parking bays, as well as improved road access to terminals two and three. These upgrades are planned for a life of five years, by which both Qantas and the airport owner hope to have completed construction of new terminal facilities identified within the master plan.
In 2008, Westralia Airports has announced their intention to complete a A$1 billion upgrade project which addresses key elements of the masterplan. 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 7 years.
The first phase involves the delivery of a facility known as Terminal WA, scheduled to be completed by 2011. This terminal is designed to serve as a facility for Intrastate flights servicing regional Western Australia. Earthworks are already well underway, with Perth Airport releasing its final draft plan in November 2008. The facility will be equipped with 20 gates, some of which may be aerobridges if the need warrants them. Other features include 4 baggage carousels, a cafe, numerous retailers, and a concourse to the future consolidated Domestic and International terminal. Terminal WA will relieve pressure on the existing Terminals 2 and 3. Already to assist this, improved road links between the international (T1) and domestic terminals (T2, T3, General aviation) are already under construction.
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
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Terminal WA
Construction of an additional Domestic Terminal has been proposed, for establishment on the Southern side of the terminal area, east of the existing International Terminal. It is considered to be the first phase in meeting the terminal consolidation goals envisioned in the 2024 master plan.The new single story terminal has been designed to provide;
- At-grade access to terminal building,
- 16 check-in counters, including space for installation of future self service technologies,
- Centralised passenger security screening zone,
- 14 aircraft bays, accessible from enclosed walkways,
- 36 additional aircraft paking bays, and
- Three baggage reclaim belts.
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.
Construction is planned to commence during the last week of August 2011, with combined works to deliver the new terminal valued at AUD
Aud
Aud might refer to*Australian dollar *Ambedkar University, Delhi *American University in Dubai *Doctor of Audiology *Auðr, the son of Nótt and Naglfari in Norse mythology...
120 million (2010). Completion of the new terminal is expected during December 2012. and Skywest, Alliance Airlines, Strategic 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.
Transport
Road access to the domestic terminals from the CBD is via Great Eastern HighwayGreat Eastern Highway
The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields...
and Brearley Ave. The International terminal access is via Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway, at , is a limited access dual carriageway in Perth, Western Australia, connecting Reid Highway in the north with Thomas Road in the south. Mostly a 4 lane highway, some sections of the highway are to a 4 to 6 lane freeway standard; the remainder of the highway has been designed to...
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. The domestic terminal can be accessed by multiple regular public bus services operated by Transperth
Transperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
. The airport is not currently serviced by Rail, however the current airport master plan calls for the construction of rail services prior to 2024.
During construction
On 13 April 1987, a HillerHiller Aircraft
Hiller Aircraft Company was founded in 1942 as Hiller Industries by Stanley Hiller to develop helicopters.- History :Stanley Hiller, then seventeen, established the first helicopter factory on the West Coast of the United States, located in Berkeley, California, in 1942, under the name "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.
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 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. 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, fueled by ruptured fuel tanks.
In the subsequent investigation conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Board, it was found that:
- 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.
1999 runway strike
On 2 September 1999, the number one engine of a QantasQantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
, en route from Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
coming into land on Runway 06/24, struck the runway surface upon landing. 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.
After discussion with ATC and changes in wind conditions, the aircraft was then offered the use of Runway 06/24. 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.
The cause was determined to be prevailing weather conditions which often result in low-level turbulence
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
, also known as wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, largely due to local geography, with rolling winds caused by the nearby Darling Scarp
Darling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
. The incident has resulted in efforts to improve weather monitoring systems around the airport.
Accidents en route
On 2 July 1949 a Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
, named Fitzroy, departed from Perth Airport for Carnarvon
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Carnarvon is a coastal town situated approximately 900 kilometres north of Perth, Western Australia. It lies at the mouth of the Gascoyne River on the Indian Ocean. The popular Shark Bay world heritage area lies to the south of the town and the Ningaloo Reef lies to the north...
. 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
Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
Skymaster, named Amana, departed from Perth Airport for Adelaide, South Australia. It crashed 22 minutes later, near York, Western Australia
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
, 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
TAA Fokker Friendship disaster
The crash of Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538, also known as the TAA Fokker Friendship disaster, was the second largest loss of life in an Australian aircraft accident, with 29 deaths. It occurred on 10 June 1960 at Mackay, Queensland, Australia...
remain Australia's worst civil aviation accidents.
From September 1968 Vickers Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
VH-RMQ was operated out of Perth Airport by MacRobertson Miller Airlines
MacRobertson Miller Airlines
MacRobertson Miller Airlines Ltd. , callsign "Miller", IATA code "MV", was established in Australia in late 1927, by pilot Horrie Miller with the backing of chocolate millionaire Sir Macpherson Robertson....
. On 31 December 1968 VH-RMQ conducted Flight 1750 from Perth to Port Hedland
Port Hedland, Western Australia
Port Hedland is the highest tonnage port in Australia and largest town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with a population of approximately 14,000 ....
. 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.
There have been two separate and unrelated significant incidents where airliners en route to the airport have suffered accidents, and two recent emergency landings.
The first was British Airways Flight 9
British Airways Flight 9
British Airways Flight 9, sometimes referred to by its callsign Speedbird 9 or Jakarta incident, was a scheduled British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Auckland, with stops in Bombay, Madras, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, and Melbourne....
which was en route to the airport on 24 June 1982, had volcanic ash sucked into its engines and sustained engine fires. The aircraft was diverted and landed safely in Jakarta, Indonesia. No one was injured, but the aircraft was significantly damaged.
The second was Qantas Flight 72
Qantas Flight 72
Qantas Flight 72 was a scheduled flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Perth Airport on 7 October 2008 that made an emergency landing at Learmonth airport near the town of Exmouth, Western Australia following an inflight accident featuring a pair of sudden uncommanded pitch-down manoeuvres that...
, an Airbus A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
-300 inbound from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on 7 October 2008. The aircraft rapidly lost altitude causing 74 passengers and crew to sustain injuries after being thrown up towards the cabin ceiling. The pilots made an emergency landing
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
at Learmonth Airport in northern Western Australia with the aircraft sustaining no damage to the airframe.