Australia’s only west coast capital city, Perth is a major destination for the nation’s airlines. A hub for both business and tourism, as well as a vital connection point to cities across the massive, but sparsely populated state of Western Australia (WA), Perth has become a major focus for airlines looking to make their mark in the trans-continental market.
Fighting to win market share, both Qantas and Virgin Australia have added further service from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, with bigger aircraft and enhanced inflight services. Each airline has also focused on intra-WA flights with connections to such places as Albany and Esperance to the south of Perth, Kalgoorlie to the east, and Geraldton, Karratha and Broome to the north.
Flight time between Perth and the three largest east coast capitals is between 4 and 5 hours, while jet service to the northern WA cities of Broome and Karratha take about 2 hours.
Offering some of the lowest fares for one-way and return airfares, Jetstar bring their mix of great service and low fares to Perth too.
Domestic airlines flying to Perth
Perth may seem like a faraway place to many Australians, but it’s really just one flight away from most major cities. Well served by a number of airlines, Perth continues to achieve record passenger numbers. The terminal itself has recently expanded with the opening in late 2015 of a new International Terminal, and a brand new state-of-the-art domestic terminal for Virgin Australia.
These airlines provide service to Perth from the following cities.
Airnorth-
Alliance Airlines (Charter services)-
Jetstar-
Qantas-
Regional Express (REX)-
Virgin Australia-
Peak and off season. When to get the best deal
While Perth enjoys frequent service between the east coast and other cities, airlines are careful not to flood their Perth services with an excess number of seats. For this reason, flights generally fly at or near capacity. Fares are usually higher during peak travel times such as weekday mornings and afternoons. These times are often popular with business travellers and connecting international passengers. Other peak times include summer school holidays and Easter. While low fares are offered during these times, they generally sell well in advance.
The best deals to Perth are usually in the evening with overnight services offered on trans-continental routes from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Consistently low fares can also be found when booking on low fare airlines such as Jetstar.
Getting to and leaving the airport
Perth Airport is located approximately 12km east of Perth City. Terminals 1 and 2 are located on Airport Drive which can be accessed from both the Tonkin and Leach Highways. Terminals 3 and 4 are on the airport’s west side and are accessed from Tonkin Highway. When making connections, the four terminals are connected by an airport operated shuttle bus.
With the completion of the new Virgin Australia Domestic Terminal and the new International Terminal, airlines now use the following facilities.
Terminal 1 (T1) – Virgin Australia domestic and all international airlines Terminal 2 (T2) – Alliance, Virgin Australia Regional Terminal 3 (T3) – Jetstar (domestic), Qantas Terminal 4 (T4) – Qantas (interstate)
For detailed information on Perth Airport, its location, parking options and terminal facilities, visit the Perth Airport Passenger Information page.
Perth Airport Facilities & Services
Each terminal at Perth Airport provides Long Term, Short Term and ‘Park & Wait’ car parks. Car rental desks can be found on the ground level of each terminal. Taxis and the terminal transfer bus can also be found outside the four terminals on the ground level.
Other facilities and services found at Perth Airport include.-
- Baggage Storage
- Banking and Money Exchange
- ATMs
- Restaurants, cafes, bars and retail stores
Perth as transit or stop-over destination
Perth is a vibrant city situated on the banks of the Swan River. The CBD is compact and easy to get around on foot, making it the ideal place to pass the time with a visit to Hay Street Mall for some shopping, or to visit such landmarks as the historic Perth Mint or St. George’s Cathedral. Close by, one of Perth’s most recognisable landmarks, the Swan Bell Tower, holds some of the largest change ringing bells in the world, many of which come from a church on London’s Trafalgar Square.
Perth is a city made for the outdoors. King’s Park not only offers spectacular city and Swan River views, but is home to beautiful botanic gardens and lush natural settings. The Perth Zoo is another popular activity with over 1,800 native and exotic animals on display. Perth also has many quaint neighbourhoods to explore. Stroll along the tree lined streets with their many shops and cafes in Subiaco or Como, or hit the beach 25 minutes west of the city, at Cottesloe.