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Perth Airport awarded capital city airport of the year

written by australianaviation.com.au | November 24, 2016

perth-airport
Perth Airport opened its T1 Domestic Pier in November 2015. (Built Environs)

Perth Airport has taken out the capital city airport of the year award at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) national conference.

The AAA recognised Perth Airport for its “initiatives to significantly enhance the experience for all users and visitors; and its commitment to the local community”. In November 2015, the airport opened the doors to its new T1 Domestic Pier, which is Virgin Australia’s new home at Perth.

“Ranging from a new website and mobile app to the launch of a cloud-based check-in system, considerable effort has been made to improve the electronic connection for customers,” the award citation reads.

“Increased numbers of volunteers to assist passengers and the installation of public art provides more amenity for airport users.”

Perth Airport staff celebrate receiving the award at the AAA dinner. (Perth Airport/Twitter)
Perth Airport staff celebrate receiving the award at the AAA dinner. (Perth Airport/Twitter)

Among the other awards, Launceston Airport was named major airport of the year for the second year in a row for its $3.55 million terminal upgrade. The airport also took out the innovation and excellence award in the commercial category for its retail transformation project.

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Away from the big cities, Albury Airport on the NSW/Victorian border took out the large regional airport of the year category, while western Victoria’s Hamilton Airport was named small regional aerodrome of the year.

The awards were presented at the AAA national conference dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Ron Brent and Sunshine Coast Airport general manager Peter Pallot each received an outstanding contribution to the airport industry award.

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Comments (18)

  • Speedbird 84

    says:

    Hopefully Perth Airport doesn’t let the potential new Qantas 787 Flights to LHR slip through their fingers. It would be such a massive thing for Aviation in WA if we end up being the new Hub for Qantas non stop flights to the UK and potentially Europe.

  • Dave

    says:

    As someone who frequents Perth Airport often, I can say that either the bar has been set very low by other airports, or these people didn’t actually go to Perth airport to review.

  • Simon

    says:

    The new T1 terminal is a bit of a minefield and to be honest there are better layouts in Australia and the world than the inside of the new terminal.

  • Steve

    says:

    I think PER winning is purely based on the virgin terminal! Every other terminal is old and outdated

  • Rich DC

    says:

    Is this a joke? haha Did they really win??

  • Dave

    says:

    I agree with Speedbird 84 but it seems Perth Airport is determined to stop direct LHR flights happening.

    Perth Airport insist that QF international must operate from the T1 side, even though there is no way they could build a new QF facility in time for the LHR flights and would cost way more than the $25m Qantas proposes at the T3/T4 side. International and Domestic need to be together for the transfer to be attractive and efficient.

    The Qantas proposal makes sense, and I reckon if successful will outgrow the T3/T4 precinct faster and both parties would get their goal. Without it, QF wont grow in Perth and there wont be any incentive for them to move at all.

    Other destinations in Europe have been mentioned too. So if these are successful Perth would have a range of international flights, and I reckon Africa and India could come into the picture. There is a good argument that a single transfer in Australia in an intimate facility would be much more attractive than the expanses and busyness of Dubai, even if the flight time was slightly longer via PER. A good airline via a good terminal works well, think Helsinki for example.

    If this became successful then QF would need improved domestic frequency from all east coast cities, which means more options for business people and all the economic benefits that that would generate. And that could happen quite quickly if the model is successful, QF would outgrow T3/T4 and the new facility over at T1 would be needed sooner rather than later.

    Alternatively, if nothing happens then nothing happens.
    Would the Capital City Airport of the Year let that happen?

  • Dante

    says:

    I regularly travel out of Perth’s terminal 3 and recently used terminal 1 for an international flight. The airport has improved out of sight over the last 5 years. The plans for a new terminal, rail link and runway will make it even better.

  • Geoff

    says:

    With some much needed improvements complete, I think this award is deserved. There is much still to accomplish however.

    With the current slower WA economy, this is a golden opportunity to push the agenda and get the International satellite (T1) underway. This is vital as there are definite forecast signs indicative of increased growth from the Asian, Oceania and Middle Eastern markets. Watch Africa too.

    QANTAS MUST be supported with their LHR initiative from T3/4 as there are insufficient gates available over at T1, due to previous qualified forecasts being ignored. They will eventually go over to a consolidated terminal set-up, but for now there must be a concerted effort to assist them to operate from their current base. The wider economic benefits for the WA economy and therefore Perth city and Perth airport are far too important to disregard.

    Kevin, as mentioned in my earlier comment, upon your arrival here, you have some challenges to face. If this QF proposal is a challenge, then you will overcome it quickly. It must happen!

    Warm regards.

  • Ali

    says:

    Definitely much improvement made however agree 100% with Dave and Geoff regarding the QANTAS proposal for direct services to London (& possibly other destinations). Perth Airport have to find a way to work with them to make this happen…. the benefits for our whole economy are without question & we can’t afford to miss this opportunity. If this becomes another case of “wait awhile”, we’ll miss our chance and another airport and city will steal our opportunity. There’s a time to be bold and pull out all the stops to make things happen and that time is now Perth Airport!

  • Kevin

    says:

    Whilst the porposed Qantas non stop flights will bring some benefits to Perth, i would expect a large percentage of the passengers will be in transit from other cities, so they will not be in Perth for long!
    However with eventual demise of the 747, i cant see Qantas ever getting approval to operate 787s or 777x non stop sydney johannesburg on a viable routung.
    Virgin tried the 777 melbourne to johannesburg, and the etops requirements made it unviable.
    So a possible solution would be Perth to Johannesburg, the flights fed with non stop services from every were else in Australia, the only people to lose out would be those in Sydney!
    At the moment for any other city in Australi to get to Johannesburg requires a connection and quite often back tracking.

  • Red Barron

    says:

    If Perth can’t come to the party could the LHD be run out of Darwin direct to London.

  • Speedbird 84

    says:

    Does anyone know why EK has downgraded its 0600 from PER to DXB flight back to the 777-300er? Im assuming they were having issues with load factors on double daily A380 flights? Can’t find any info if its temporary or a permanent change back to the 777.

  • Tony

    says:

    Had my issues with Perth airport but to give praise the new terminals are good, they built a nice free facility to view and the new access roads are an improvement. Plus there is a plan now in progress to gain train access and the airport is not very far from the CBD anyway.

    Work is needed on the older terminals plus accessing rental cars at all terminals is long distance dragging bags and exposed to weather. Amazed that T3 closes even before the last flight has departed. Have even been locked inside on late arrival after queuing for rental car!
    It’s never satisfactory to have terminals on opposite sides of the runways and maybe better planning years ago could have avoided this.

  • JAY

    says:

    speed bird, as far as I’m aware, the EK A380 change to the Perth schedule was done as a seasonal change. Further to this, Emirates have replaced some East coast services EK 418/419 DXB-BKK-SYD-AKL-SYD-BKK-DXB, EK412/413 DXB-SYD-CHC-SYD-DXB, along with EK448/449 DXB-AKL-DXB. EK 418/419 and 412/413 were 777-300ERs upgraded to A380s, and EK 448/449 was 777-200LR upgraded to A380.

    Further to this, All daily EK flights to Doha will become the shortest A380 flights (around 45mins) from 1st December 2016. They also utilise them in Saudi Arabia from time to time and regularly on some services to India. This increase in their (Gulf) regional routes (despite new and continuing deliveries) is what has brought about their equipment change.

  • Allan Payne

    says:

    I would vote them absolute bottom. Every time I go through the international terminal I cringe at what we put up with. It is excruciating.

  • Allan Payne

    says:

    Qantas is to be commended for proposed use of their own terminal for direct flights to London. And the problem with no immigration for international flights can easily be solved. By using the facilities at Heathrow to process arrivals bureaucracy when passengers leave for Perth, so they just step disembark when they arrive in Perth smoothly and quickly, so after very long flight so hassle

  • Tony

    says:

    @Allan Payne
    I also thought about immigration passport clearance at Heathrow as they do this for US flights. Not sure how that deals with customs though? Apart from quarantine and passenger baggage, the flight would have cargo to be cleared.

  • Jason

    says:

    Perth direct to London, Frankfurt, Rome, Athens, Paris Brussels, the B787 European gateway with Dubai the A380 European gateway. Surely with the space in Terminals 3 and 4 Perth airport could satisfy the QANTAS request for single terminal ops. I would consider $40M to be a small price for at least 5 years of operation given it will take at least that long to extended Terminal to incorporate the additional capacity.

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