Long wait for airport plans to play out

Westralia Airports Corporation Pty Ltd is expected to publicly release its expansion plans for its congested facilities by February, but any significant relief for air travellers is unlikely to be felt until at least 2012.

WAC corporate affairs general manager Malcolm Bradshaw said it would take between five and seven years before a new development – either expanding the domestic terminal or amalgamating it with the international terminal – would be operational.

WAC presented a $500 million plan to integrate the two terminals in August but has remained in discussions with stakeholders about expanding both facilities.

In the meantime, the corporation is trying to alleviate pressure being felt at its terminals as a result of increased demand for air services and has committed to spending $20 million. Qantas is independently spending $50 million.

This year, the number of domestic terminal arrivals and departures reached a volume WAC had estimated would occur in 2020.

The number of passengers it thought would come in to the airport in 2015 was also reached this year.

WAC only made the estimates three years ago.

Qantas has experienced such demand that inbound planes are sometimes forced to wait for a space to clear at the terminal before passengers are able to disembark.

One industry source said the collective $70 million upgrade was a “stop-gap” solution and the problems at the Perth airport would “remain ugly before it gets better”.

The staggering rise in passenger numbers is expected to continue with the launch of Singapore-based discount airline Tiger Airways and increases in the number of flights from other airlines, including Qantas’ discount carrier Jetstar.

Yet even when a new or expanded terminal is constructed, it seems Perth’s airways have changed forever.

Airlines are experiencing longer flight times to Perth as pilots are forced to take different landing routes or are placed in a holding pattern until they are cleared to land.

Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd managing director Hugh Davin said the airline has had to alter its flight schedule to cope with the cluttered air corridors.

He said it was a situation that would remain following a new development.

“Two years ago in the old sleepy town of Perth you were assured of coming straight in to land, but now you could be in a holding pattern for 15 to 20 minutes,” Mr Davin said.

“It means we are now no different to Sydney or Melbourne and that is just the way it is.”

In 2006-07 there was a 15 per cent increase in domestic passenger numbers while for general aviation, which covers the charter air companies, there was an increase of 47 per cent.

Mr Davin said he was optimistic the WAC would drive positive long-term changes under the stewardship of chief executive Brad Geatches, who took the job in March.