Flights to and from Perth Airport are expected to resume on Thursday morning, after a day of disruption that saw 13 airlines cancel or delay services, affecting nearly 200 domestic and international flights.
Flights to and from Perth Airport are expected to resume on Thursday morning, after a day of disruption that saw 13 airlines cancel or delay services, affecting nearly 200 domestic and international flights.
In an update issued at 5.30pm, Perth Airport said the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre has indicated it is likely the volcanic ash cloud over Perth will dissipate and move out to sea overnight.
This will allow airlines to review their schedules for arrivals and departures on Thursday 16 June, the Airport statement said.
Separately, Qantas said it will resume services to and from Perth on Thursday. All Australian domestic services will operate as scheduled.
Qantas services to and from New Zealand will remain suspended until 12pm local time on Thursday 16 June.
Earlier, the Airport said the following services had been suspended until midnight tonight:
- South African Airways - SA201 Perth to Johannesburg
- Skywest - some services will be suspended
- Alliance - all services from 1pm to midnight (WST)
- Virgin Australia - all services from 1pm (WST)
- Qantas - all services from 1pm (WST)
- Jetstar - all services from 1pm (WST)
- Garuda - services delayed
- Strategic - all services cancelled
- Maroomba, Network, Cobham, Skippers - all services cancelled
- Tiger Airways - flights to and form Singapore cancelled
Perth Airport said that 14 international flights and 43 domestic flights had been affected.
"Any passengers travelling today and within the next 24 hours should check with their airline to
confirm the status of their flight before coming to the Airport," urged Perth Airport general manager of corporate affairs Fiona Lander.
"Passengers who confirm their flight status before arriving at the Airport will avoid disappointment and frustration, as it likely there will be high numbers of passengers waiting in the terminal later today" she continued.
Dr Andrew Tupper, the head of the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, said the ash cloud over Tasmania was dissipating from the north and was expected to have cleared off the east coast by Thursday morning.
"By tomorrow morning we're only looking at Perth in terms of Australian cities affected," Dr Tupper told reporters on Wednesday.
The volcano began erupting on June 4, with ash drifting east across Africa before reaching Australia.
Air New Zealand is continuing to operate as normal with planes flying at a lower altitude.
The WA Tourism Council said today it estimated the state would lose at least $9 million each day the airport is closed, with potential losses of up to $54 milion per day.
Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall says the impact of the flight suspensions is likely to be felt across the state.
"Eastern state visitors spend about $900 per trip to Western Australia and international visitors spend an average of $2,700, and if they can't land, they can't spend that money," he said.
"Hotels, taxis, restaurants, cafes and tourism operators across the state will feel financial pain from even just a short close down" said Mr Hall.
"The final financial cost will depend on how many passengers reschedule" said Hall "but once the flight is missed, the hotel and restaurant table will be empty as well, you can't get back that lost time."
"This episode shows the importance of Perth Airport as the states gateway" said Mr Hall "it is critical economic infrastructure."
'This disaster also shows us how reliant we are on one airport" said Mr Hall.
"We need to scale up Broome and Busselton Airports as true international gateway airports to spread the risk for the state."
Meanwhile, the seven AFL clubs required to travel interstate this weekend will now fly a day earlier than planned in an attempt to ensure there is no disruption to any matches.
The AFL has made contingency plans due to the ash plume caused by the volcanic eruption in Chile that has caused chaos with Australian airline schedules.
The AFL is confident that no games over the weekend will be affected.
The biggest concerns have been over the Hawthorn-Gold Coast game in Launceston and the clash between West Coast and Port Adelaide in Perth.
The estimated cost for having seven travelling teams stay an extra night interstate will be $30,000.