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Perth Airport has set a new annual passenger record of 18.39 million in FY26, up 5.2 per cent on the previous year as international travel surged and a multibillion-dollar infrastructure program gathered pace.
The result is the second consecutive record year for the airport, which welcomed 17.5 million passengers in FY25.
International passengers led growth over the past year, climbing 8.1 per cent to 5.55 million, while regional travel rose 6 per cent to 6.6 million and interstate passengers grew 1.9 per cent to 6.22 million.
The passenger milestone comes alongside what Perth Airport has described as the largest private infrastructure investment in Perth's history, anchored by a new runway representing more than $1 billion in spending over four years.
Capital expenditure hit $335 million in FY25, up 23.6 per cent on the prior year, as the airport advanced the runway project and broader terminal upgrades.
Perth Airport CEO Jason Waters says the record result reflects the strength of Western Australia's economy and the airport's investment in connectivity.
“While much of the public focus has been on our plans for the future, our teams have been working hard to support record numbers of Western Australians travelling through Perth Airport safely, securely and efficiently,” says Waters.
“Our operations, terminals and ground transport teams have done an outstanding job managing this growth while maintaining high standards of service and safety."
The airport's most recent financial results, covering FY25, showed revenue of $751.8 million, up 14.4 per cent, and a post-tax profit of $185.5 million. Operating expenses rose 12.7 per cent to $301.5 million over the same period. FY26 financial results have not yet been released.
The international passenger growth aligns with a broader recovery in overseas travel to Western Australia.
Data from the WA Government showed the state welcomed 1.024 million overseas visitors in the 12 months to October 2025, exceeding the pre-COVID benchmark of 996,000 for the first time.
International seat capacity into Perth reached 131 per cent of January 2019 levels over the same period.
During FY26, Perth Airport benefitted from new and expanded services that improved connections across Asia, Africa, New Zealand and the eastern states.
Key international milestones included China Southern moving to year-round Guangzhou services, Qantas launching Johannesburg and Auckland, ANA increasing Perth-Tokyo to daily flights over the peak northern winter season and Jetstar launching Perth-Manila.
Perth Airport's new runway project is expected to deliver additional capacity as the airport positions itself for continued growth in both domestic and international markets.
Key projects within the capital expenditure program include an expanded international terminal, new terminal facilities, a new parallel runway, additional aprons and taxiways, multi-storey car parks and major road upgrades.
“This investment will deliver our long-term One Airport vision, creating a more efficient airport, a better travel experience for passengers and significant economic benefits for Western Australia,” says Waters.
Construction is already under way including the first of two multi-storey car parks, an expansion of Terminal 2 and upgrades at Terminal 1 International.
Preliminary works for the new parallel runway have also begun, with the airport expecting this to deliver "substantial benefits" for airlines, exporters, tourism and the resources sector.
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