PERTH AIRPORT TO SPEND $5M OF $84M PROFIT ON MAKEOVER
27 November 2008
BEATRICE THOMAS
Perth Airport recorded a 44 per cent increase in profit last financial year to post an $84.5 million return, money it will use to fund the overhaul of the front of its domestic terminal as a stop-gap measure to improve the facility.
The airport’s much-maligned domestic terminal will be upgraded and expanded with three dedicated lanes for traffic created in a $5 million investment aimed to ease pedestrian and traffic congestion.
Unveiling the project last night —the second major announcement from the airport this week —operator Westralia Airports Corporation said it had posted a before-tax net profit of $84.5 million.
WAC chief executive Brad Geatches said the strong profit result reflected the strength of the WA economy over the reporting period.
Domestic passenger numbers grew 13.6 per cent to 6.67 million with international passengers up 13.1 per cent to 2.51 million.
In particular, the strength of the resources sector and the fly-in, fly-out labour force meant general aviation and charter traffic had more than doubled in the past three years.
Mr Geatches said it was not likely such growth levels would be matched next year but the airport was confident it would continue to post good results despite market uncertainty.
The airport made a capital investment of $97 million last year and forecast a $200 million investment this year on the back of planned infrastructure projects.
Unveiling plans for the domestic terminal, the company said the airport would be reconfigured to separate traffic into three lanes for taxis closest to the terminal, bigger vehicles such as buses and private vehicles.
The forecourt would be extended by 45m to solve congestion for passengers entering and exiting the terminal and new walkways will be built to short and long-term parking.
Perth Airport has been under intense pressure to improve the domestic terminal facilities in recent years, with politicians amid scores of passengers branding them among the worst in the world.
“The purpose of the upgrade is to provide some interim capacity at the domestic terminal while we proceed with the major redevelopment over the next five to seven years,” spokesman Malcolm Bradshaw said yesterday. Mr Bradshaw said he hoped that improving the narrow forecourt eased congestion in the area, with people walking out of the terminal currently confronted with a “barrage of cigarette smoke.”
The upgrade will begin just after Christmas and is expected to be finished within a year.
The airport released detailed designs on Monday for the $200 million Terminal WA project, which is expected to be completed by late 2010.
(c) 2008, West Australian Newspapers Limited
The West Australian
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