Coping with growth

The package will be a significant improvement for the airport, enabling it to handle the expected growth over the next 10 years, although they are more modest plans than the airport’s $1 billion upgrade announced in May 2008, before the global financial crisis.

Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches told stakeholders in November that several key drivers were underpinning the higher growth in air service demand in WA compared with other states.

“Demand for airport services continues to grow primarily due to population growth, relatively high disposable income and employment levels in WA, and our state’s reliance on air travel for both business and leisure,” Geatches said.

He said the airport and 23 airlines had worked over the past 18 months to reach agreement.

The first stage, expanding the international terminal, will feature 14 extra checkin counters and a new baggage and customs areas to be located to the east of the current international terminal.

A domestic/international pier will also be built, allowing airlines to move aircraft between domestic and overseas services. To be used by Virgin Blue from 2013, it will have 16 domestic check-in counters and 12 aerobridges, some able to handle the A380.

The expansion of the international terminal and the addition of the domestic pier to the terminal will involve an investment of approximately $270 million.

Adjoining the new pier, a new terminal – Terminal 2 – will be built to service intrastate traffic including fly-in/fly-out markets. Called Terminal 2, the facility takes the place of the previously planned Terminal WA.

The single story building’s check-in hall will have 16 counters and direct access via covered walkways to 14 gates, with parking for an extra 22 aircraft. Skywest Airlines will be a key tenant in the new facility.

Construction of Terminal 2 will commence in mid 2011 and, together with its supporting infrastructure, will cost approximately $120 million.

Once the current airport upgrade is finished, Qantas’ s domestic services will expand into the existing Terminal 3 space vacated by Virgin Blue and Skywest, before eventually being moved across to a fully integrated terminal planned to be completed in eight to 10 years.

The airport will also spend $50 million over three years on expanded airfield aprons, taxiways and aircraft parking areas.

The redevelopment will be seen by many as long overdue, but Westralia Airports Corporation has battled a host of complex issues to reach consensus on the right flightpath.

Three years ago Virgin Blue wanted a low cost terminal – and low charges – to handle its flights, but its dramatic change in direction towards the business market demands a far more classier product.

The airline intends to operate the A330 to Perth, also necessitating aerobridges.

photo -Two years ago when the financial crisis hit, most experts were predicting flat travel growth or even a reduction, which put plans on hold for terminal expansion.

But travel to and from WA has bucked the global trend, throwing a host of projections out the window with passenger numbers up to five years ahead of forecasts. In the 12 months to June 30, passenger numbers grew 7. 5 per cent to 10. 4 million.

The massive boom in fly-in/fly-out workers has put an enormous strain on every aspect of the airport’s operations. Perth now serves 54 mine sites and regional destinations, and the resources industry demands most flights leave between 5. 30am and 7. 30am each weekday, adding more strain on airport infrastructure.

A key element of the final integration of domestic and international terminals on the eastern side of the airport is the upgrade of the road network. Dubbed the Gateway WA project, it has been identified as a national infrastructure priority and will underpin the long term expansion and consolidation of Perth Airport.

Work has also commenced on a project master plan to investigate a series of road and bridge improvements within the stretch of Tonkin Highway between the Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway, as well as Leach Highway from Orrong Road to Perth Airport.

These include the widening of Tonkin Highway and flyover interchanges at the intersection of Tonkin Highway with Leach Highway and Welshpool Road.

The project masterplan is scheduled to be completed by early 2012.

Subject to funding, construction is anticipated to start in 2014 to enable completion before final Perth Airport terminal consolidation in 2018-2020.

In the interim, to cope with the increased traffic, WA Main Roads plans to build a temporary access from Tonkin Highway to the airport’s new internal ring road that links the domestic and international terminals.

The combination of terminal and road upgrades should result in a world class facility that is a leap ahead of the current over-burdened airport.