“Enormous potential”: Perth Airport passenger numbers hit new record

A big surge in international passengers saw 16.9 million travellers pass through terminals in Perth Airport last year, setting a new record for the hub and easily beating the previous peak of 15.3 million set in 2023.

A rise in international travellers and growth in both regional and interstate travel has seen an additional 1.6 million passengers in 2024. Approximately 56 per cent of the increase was attributed to additional international passengers, with a total of 4.8 million travellers passing through – reflecting a year-on-year increase of 23 per cent.

Regional routes also performed well, growing by 7 per cent to help 6.1 million passengers reach their desired destination. Meanwhile, interstate travel at the airport increased from 5.6 million to 5.9 million passengers, marking a 6 per cent rise.

Perth Airport’s CEO Jason Waters said the continued growth in aviation is a positive for the Western Australian economy.

“If Perth Airport is growing, then the Western Australian economy is growing and prospering,” Waters said.

“We believe there is great potential for further growth in passenger numbers as we move towards a potential 20 million passengers a year by 2030.

“International travel has enormous potential with Perth Airport and Tourism WA about to host almost 1,000 national and international aviation decision-makers for the Routes Asia conference in March.

The news comes more than a year since it was announced that Perth Airport and national carrier Qantas (ASX: QAN) struck a multi-billion deal to welcome millions more passengers each year and solidify the destination as “the Western Gateway to Australia”.

Perth Airport agreed to invest more than $5 billion to create new terminal facilities, a new parallel runway, two multi-storey carparks, major access roadworks and the airport’s first hotel. The investment program is the largest ever private infrastructure development seen in Perth.

“We are pushing ahead with our planning and delivery of a multi-billion-dollar investment program to deliver a new runway, new terminal facilities, two multi-storey carparks with major road upgrades, and our first hotel,” Waters said.

“This will see the capacity and efficiency of Perth Airport grow and in turn will underpin more growth in aviation, tourism and hospitality, the resources sector, and international business and education links.

“Construction has commenced on the first multi-storey carpark, early works for the new runway are set to commence in the first half of this year, and work is accelerating on planning and approvals processes for the remaining major projects.”