Qantas reveals plans for new Perth terminal, lounges and flights

Auckland and Johannesburg will return to the Qantas departures board at Perth Airport, but not until “mid-2025.”

That’s the official word from the west, where Qantas and Perth Airport today confirmed an end to “all outstanding commercial issues in dispute” between the two under a 12-year multi-billion dollar agreement.

In the short term, this will see upgrades to Terminals 3 and 4 – the current home of Qantas domestic and international flights – to boost their capacity to handle more passengers and more planes.

This will unlock those red-tailed Perth-Auckland and Perth-Johannesburg flights from the middle of next year, with the caveat those are “subject to meeting border agency requirements.”

Jetstar will also relocate its domestic services to Terminal 2 from September 2024; the low-cost airline is already slated to start Perth-Singapore and Perth-Phuket flights in August, with Perth-Bangkok following in September.

The extended international wing of T3 will also be able to accommodate the Qantas Airbus A350s which arrive from 2026 and which will eventually take over the flagship Perth-London route, which serves as the cornerstone for Perth as Qantas’ “Western hub.”

The new Qantas and Jetstar terminal at Perth's Airport Central precinct will open by 2031.

“Perth-London and Perth-Rome are two of the most popular flights on our international network, which gives us confidence in our strategy to ramp up WA flying over the next few years as we receive new aircraft and grow our fleet,” says Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson.

“With the launch of Perth-Paris in July and Jetstar’s new services into Asia starting later this year, we have a pipeline of growth underway that will mean Perth is on track to become our second biggest international gateway behind Sydney.”

But bigger things – much bigger things – are ahead, with Qantas and Jetstar moving in 2031 to an all-new terminal atatched to the existing Terminal 1 in Perth’s Airport Central precinct. And ahead of that: the opening of a new parallel runway in 2028.

Inside the new Qantas and Jetstar terminal to be built at Perth's Airport Central precinct.

Hudson said the project – the largest airport infrastructure deal in the airline’s history – “will enable us to create a world-class western hub and significantly expand our domestic and international services over the short, medium and long term.”

“Not only will it allow us to bring hundreds of thousands more travellers to and through Western Australia each year, it will also make it easier for overseas tourists to connect to more destinations across Australia.”

The new terminal will provide seamless transfer between domestic and international flights, along with new lounges in “a multi-lounge precinct for international and domestic passengers with a new signature design and bespoke dining and wellness initiatives.”

Inside the new Qantas and Jetstar terminal to be built at Perth's Airport Central precinct.

It will also be served by the airport’s rail link to the Perth CBD, ending the need for Qantas passengers to hop an 11-minute shuttle bus ride to catch the Perth-bound train, or opt for an expensive taxi or rideshare drive to the city.

Other improvements coming as part of Perth Airport’s massive capex will be an airport hotel and two multistorey carparks.

“Qantas has some ambitious growth plans for its operations in Perth and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to push ahead together to realise this potential,” said airport CEO Jason Waters.

“Western Australians will now see the largest-ever private investment in an infrastructure development in Perth — a once in a lifetime investment program that will completely change the face of Perth Airport over the next decade.”