Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches has conceded that the airport's $1 billion re-development would only deliver 25 contact bays out of a planned 45 in the new combined international and domestic terminal.
Mr Geatches told WA Business News the additional 20 bays that were shown in briefing documents released two months ago will now be built as part of a further re-development.
On May 1, the airport's owner, unlisted company Westralia Airports Corporation Pty Ltd, released its vision document, which highlighted a 45 contact bay combined international/domestic terminal plus a separate 36-bay non-contact terminal for regional flights in WA, with a sticker price of just $1 billion.
Mr Geatches said the precise final cost of delivering the airport redevelopment was still to be determined.
"With more detailed planning it had become apparent that an initial 25 contact bays would be delivered under the $1 billion figure announced in May," he said.
"An additional 20 bays in future stages of the redevelopment would be delivered to meet expected passenger demand of around 20 million passengers by 2028."
A guide to the costs facing Perth airport was provided by Singapore airport, which recently completed its 380,000 square metre, Terminal 3 with 28 aerobridges at a cost of S$1.75 billion (A$1.34 billion).
Singapore's labour costs are at least 30 per cent less than Australia's, suggesting that the local project would be even more expensive.
The re-development of Perth Airport will involve the relocation of the domestic terminals to the eastern side of the airport at the site of what will be a significantly expanded and modified international terminal.
The first stages of the redevelopment commenced earlier this month, with work starting on the aircraft parking apron for Terminal WA.
WAC is currently working closely with the state government on a range of associated planning issues, including airport road and public transport links.
Passenger traffic through Perth Airport has more than doubled since 2001-02, while airfield movements associated with the resources sector have doubled since 2005.
