Perth Airport Awards Contract for New Runway Design

As part of its redevelopment program, the Perth Airport Board has approved a A$45 million investment in pre-construction activities that includes environmental and other approvals, airspace design and public consultation, associated with the development of the new runway.

As part of the first phase, a contract has been awarded to a joint venture between Aurecon and Aecom to design the new runway (03R/21L) and the international apron that will support further expansion of international terminal facilities.

Due to the nature of the resource sector’s fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce deployment and the need to time many international flights to connect to other services at hub airports, Perth Airport experiences peak periods during the day and night.

Although demand for intrastate aviation services is currently subdued, Perth Airport Chief Executive Officer, Brad Geatches said that keeping ahead of the demand curve is critical to future success.

Demand has proven volatile and difficult to forecast. For this reason, it is necessary to get infrastructure design and approvals progressed, despite the current softening in demand so that we can invest in future capacity in a timely manner.

“The new runway represents a significant privately funded investment in infrastructure to support Western Australia,” said Mr Geatches.

The new runway will be 2,700 metres long and 45 metres wide, running parallel to the existing main runway and located between Terminal 1 and Abernethy Road. The project also includes approximately nine kilometres of taxiways, which will integrate the runway with the current airfield.

There will also be an investment in associated infrastructure and systems for the safe and efficient use of the new runway such as lighting, navigation aids and an additional firefighting and rescue station.

A Perth Airport team has been established to work with Aurecon and Aecom to complete the pre-construction phase of the new runway project.

WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder commended Perth Airport on its investment decision, saying it coincided with the Federal and State Government’s A$1 billion expenditure on Gateway WA, the road network leading into the airport.

“The State Government is pleased that Perth Airport is progressing the new runway project. As our population grows, there is no doubt this infrastructure will be needed for business and leisure travel in the future, to support the State’s continued prosperity,” he said.

Consistent with the Perth Airport Master Plan 2014, the third runway is scheduled for completion within the decade subject to actual demand during the period.