Perth Airport Considers Reduction in Arrival Spacing

Reduced arrival spacing has been suggested as a means to minimise delays, enhance operations and increase capacity at Perth Airport.

Airservices Australia and the United Kingdom’s air navigation service provider, UK NATS, released findings from their July 2012 jointly-funded study, indicating measures necessary in maximising the airport’s efficiency.

Perth Airport has responded positively to the 45 recommended amendments.

“Perth Airport is well advanced in implementing the 13 recommendations relating to our operations”, Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches said.

“We are confident that if Airservices Australia implement the 25 recommendations relating to their procedures and airlines cooperate with the remaining seven recommendations, significant improvements can be made at Perth Airport.”

Perth Airport will employ a schedule coordination system by early 2013, allocating landing and take-off slots at the airport and aiding in airport management during peak operational periods.

“At the moment, we have a significant peak morning departures period, from 6am to 8am every Tuesday to Thursday... There is more than sufficient airfield capacity to meet demand, however, the practices of some airlines and Airservices Australia have not seen optimal usage of the infrastructure,” Mr Geatches said.

“The report highlights that mid-week morning congestion, driven by first-in first-out departures, can only be addressed by continuing to spread airline schedules, or by constructing a third runway.”

(Source = e-Travel Blackboard)

Qatar Airways To Land In Perth Next Week

The inaugural Doha to Perth flight by Qatar Airways will touch down at Perth International Airport on Tuesday. Perth is only the second Australian destination for Qatar Airways, which is the reigning Skytrax Airline of the Year. 

Tourism WA and Perth Airport have been involved in discussions with the airline for a number of years about the service. Qatar Airways is currently regarded as the most progressive airline in the world with an aggressive expansion program, and is one of only five airlines in the world given a five-star rating. 

It has an international network of more than 110 destinations which will provide WA with a new level of connectivity to the world, and in particular the State's key European tourism markets. The new Doha-Perth service will initially operate three times a week.

Perth Airport Expansion In The Works

Perth Airport has announced it has secured Broad Construction Services (WA) Pty Ltd to undertake the first stage of it’s A$300 million expansion works of the international terminal.

The initial construction stage will begin in May 2012, and includes a major expansion of the incoming duty free retail shops, immigration area on the first level and the baggage reclaim hall.

The expansion which is scheduled to be completed in 2014 will help alleviate the congestion in queuing and waiting times for its customers.

Perth Airport chief executive officer, Brad Geatches said the expansion would ensure the airport was able to meet the rapid growth in international passenger numbers.

 “We are very aware that, due to the growth in international passengers to over 3.3 million in 2011, more than 220,000 up on the prior year, the current international arrivals experience is not what it should be,” Mr Geatches said.

“We are committed to ensuring everyone who travels through Perth Airport has a high quality experience, so we are completely changing the arrivals journey and doubling the size of all processing areas.”

Mr Geatches said Broad Construction Services is also currently working on the construction of the new A$120 million Domestic Terminal, which will service regional WA and some interstate routes from early next year.

Additionally, in an effort to reduce congestion to the International Terminal, Perth Airport has just completed a new intersection between Tonkin Highway and Dunreath Drive.

The A$10 million intersection is located to the north of the current Tonkin Highway/Leach Highwayintersection.

The intersection allows passengers to travel between Tonkin Highway and the International Terminal, however, it does not allow access to the Domestic Terminals.

“We are investing more than A$750 million over three years to expand Perth Airport, and the transformation of the current International Terminal represents the first stage towards achieving our vision of having all commercial air services operating from one convenient location by 2020,” Mr Geatches added.

(Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/131126 )

Perth Airport Opens New Waiting Area

A new waiting area has opened at Perth Domestic Airport in response to escalating complaints about thousands of illegally parked cars causing havoc.

Drivers will now be able to wait with their cars for up to 90 minutes for the cost of a gold coin donation, which will be donated to a children's charity.

Perth Airport chief executive officer Brad Geatches said it was hoped the new park-and-wait area would stop the 63,000 drivers who illegally park along Brearley Avenue each year.

The number of people flying into and out of Perth Domestic Airport is growing at the highest rate of any Australian capital city - by almost 10 per cent last financial year.

The number of vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers is now about 900,000 each year, according to the airport.

Mr Geatches said there was a growing trend for motorists to park along the road shoulder on Brearley Avenue to wait for passengers arriving on a domestic flight.

"Perth Airport has responded to the many complaints from motorists and cyclists about near misses due to illegally parked vehicles pulling out into traffic lanes from the road shoulder," he said.

"Now there are no more excuses for parking illegally and motorists have options to do the right thing.

"All short-term car parks at Perth Airport are free for the first 10 minutes and the new park-and-wait [area] is for people wanting to park and wait with their vehicle in a safe area for up to 90 minutes."

There are 50 bays in the park-and-wait area, which can be doubled to meet demand.

Profits from the gold coin entry will go to children's charities including Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and Youth Focus.

The new car park follows the airport's recent announcement of a $1 billion upgrade to accommodate the escalating number of people using domestic and international terminals.

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-airport-opens-new-waiting-area-20111012-1lkmf.html#ixzz1acW5fszi

Perth Airport in $700m Makeover

Westralia Airports Corporation, owner and operator of Perth Airport, has revealed further details of the $700 million expansion of the domestic and international terminals.

The new $120 million Perth domestic terminal located adjacent to the international terminal has been designed to meet the needs of air services for regional Western Australia, including the booming mining towns.

Some 11.5 million passengers travelled through Perth Airport during FY 10/11, which saw domestic growth increasing by 9.6 percent and international by 9.1 percent.

Skywest, Alliance Airlines, Strategic and Tiger Airways will relocate to the new terminal in early 2013. Qantas and Virgin will remain in the current domestic terminal, which will be refurbished.

In addition to the new domestic terminal, there will be a major expansion of the international terminal with a new arrivals area and domestic pier, improved transport links, expanded car parking and increased capacity for more aircraft.

Construction of the international terminal expansion will commence later this year.

(Source: travelmole.com 25th August 2011)