Perth Airport to work with Qantas on Johannesburg flight
Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown says the airport manages the needs of 19 international airlines and welcomes the opportunity to discuss additional services with any of our airline customers.
The Perth to Johannesburg route is not a new route and is already well serviced with a year-round daily flight by South African Airways from T1 international,” Mr Brown said.
“In fact, South African Airways has had a 60-year commitment to Perth and Western Australia on this route.
“We welcome Qantas’s interest in this route, even though it is primarily to transit passengers from the East coast and will only operate four times a week from December to April.
“Qantas is aware we are currently negotiating with all international airlines on a new pricing agreement which will underpin the proposed upgrade of the T1 International terminal – an upgrade which is essential for Western Australia to capture more international tourists and deliver the customer service our passengers deserve.
“Our commitment is to be fair and even-handed to all 19 international airlines who operate through the airport.
“While Perth Airport agreed to allow Qantas to operate the Perth – London services from T3, they understand that a further dilution of passengers away from T1 will undermine the economics of the crucial international terminal expansion.
“That would mean Western Australia would miss out on an $840 million investment, hundreds of construction jobs, and a much-needed boost to tourism and the broader economy.
"But we can deliver a great outcome for Qantas and at the same time ensure Western Australia gets these much-needed jobs and investment.
“Perth Airport stands ready to deliver Qantas and its passengers a quality service and experience through T1 International.”
Mr Brown said Perth Airport and the State needs to keep its focus firmly on developing new direct service routes to the growth areas of Asia.
With more than 4 billion people on our doorstep in the Asian region, Tokyo, Shanghai and Mumbai offer enormous opportunities for Western Australia,” Mr Brown said.
“This is why we will need to expand T1 International and why it is crucial to the State’s future economic prosperity.
“We will deliver the tourism sector and the economy a greater return by prioritising the development of new routes, as opposed to the - at best - marginal benefits of adding limited additional flights to existing routes on a seasonal basis.”
Perth Airport has recently been awarded the 2018 Skytrax World Airport Awards – Best Airport Staff Service in Australia/Pacific, the 2017 CAPA Asia Pacific Airport of the Year and the International Airport Review Winner 2017 for Passenger Experience.
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