Perth Airport’s passenger numbers are set to almost double to 28.5m by 2034 according to its Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2014.

The airport’s CEO Brad Geatches said the Master Plan will ensure airport planning addresses demand and growth, while striking a balance between economic development, environmental management and sustainability.

He adds that the report also highlights the critical role Perth Airport plays in the economic, social and cultural lives of all Western Australians.

“The State’s dependence on aviation is framed by the vast distances between population centres in Western Australia and between our State and elsewhere in Australia,” said Geatches.

“Over the past five years, Western Australia and Perth Airport have experienced significant change. Our State and population have grown rapidly and so too our demand for commercial aviation services. Six years ago, to support this growth and to improve customer service, Perth Airport embarked on an historic redevelopment programme.”

 

 

JR/ Duty Free at Perth Airport.

 

BIG INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
In the past six years, airport management says it has completed or commenced more than A$1bn ($943,736) of capital works, including 92 projects each valued over A$5m ($4.7m). On average, one new aircraft parking position has been constructed each month for the past seven years to cater for the demand.

“It is vital to our State’s continuing prosperity that we preserve and enhance our capacity to grow commercial aviation services. They connect us within our State, to the rest of Australia and to the world. We project that the number of passengers using Perth Airport each year will grow from 13.6 million in 2013 to 28.5 million within the next 20 years”, said Geatches.

Brad Geatches, CEO, Perth Airport.

 

Operations at Perth Airport already add approximately A$2.61bn ($2.46bn) to the State’s gross regional product (GRP) annually, and this is estimated to grow to A$7.04bn ($6.64bn) a year by 2034.

The Perth Airport Preliminary Draft Master Plan 2014 for the future development of the airport over the next 20 years is now available for public comment over the next 60 days. Airport master plans are required by law every five years in Australia.

[As reported at the time, JR/ Duty Free was announced as the ‘new’ duty free concessionaire at Perth Airport on 2 November, 2012, with the ten-year agreement running from 1 November 2013. The Nuance company was the previous concessionaire].