COVID-19 update from Perth Airport

The following should be attributed to a Perth Airport spokesperson

The coronavirus outbreak has had a catastrophic impact on the entire aviation and tourism sector.

Airports have not been immune from this.

The impact on Perth Airport’s passenger numbers and revenue has been immediate and devastating.

As a proportion of total passengers, Perth Airport has the highest international passenger percentage of any of Australia’s major airports.

The international travel restrictions to date have seen an immediate slump in international passenger numbers, which have slowed to a trickle.

Perth Airport’s revenue across aviation, retail and ground transport has been decimated by this slump.

While aviation revenue – which is charged on a per passenger basis - has dramatically fallen, Perth Airport has still been required to provide full airside and terminal services, including security, air-conditioning, power and increased cleaning due to the coronavirus.

While Perth Airport understands the State Government’s decision to further restrict interstate travel, this will only exacerbate the severe financial stress already experienced by Perth

Airport and the many businesses which rely on passenger flow through Perth Airport, including retailers, tenants, contractors and transport operators such as Rideshare and taxis.

The Perth Airport team has been working hard for many weeks on options to ensure the airport remains operational.

This has included contingency planning work on closing terminals and consolidating flights, a freeze on all non-essential expenditure, and placing on hold the majority of capital projects.

We are doing everything possible to protect jobs.

We will work together with the WA and Federal Governments to ensure the airport can continue to service the resources sector which is so vital to the State’s economy.