Statement from Perth Airport

“Perth Airport is working cooperatively with Virgin’s administrators to try to help the airline come through the current coronavirus crisis.

“We want to work with Virgin and the administrator to ensure the airline can work through its current problems.

“Maintaining a two-airline system in Australia post-COVID-19 is absolutely essential for the aviation and tourism sectors, and the broader economy.

“Virgin has significant outstanding invoices from Perth Airport for airfield and terminal use charges – money the airline has already collected from its passengers and the FIFO sector.

“While Perth Airport is working with the Virgin administrators, it also needs to protect its own interests.

“Perth Airport has taken liens over a number of Virgin aircraft – a standard practice in these situations.

“The aircraft affected are not being used for current FIFO or interstate operations and have been parked at Perth Airport for some time now. There will be zero impact on the State’s resources sector.

“At this point in time, we continue to facilitate Virgin’s FIFO flights through T2 while we try to secure an agreement with the administrators.

“Virgin continue to fly around 180 flights a week through Terminal 2.”