Qantas will make a multi-million dollar investment in Perth Airport over the next 18 months as it expands and upgrades its new terminal space with lounges, improved gate access, faster security screening and new check in areas, bringing the airline’s commitment in Perth to over $100 million in the past four years.

The announcement is part of a range of new initiatives that Qantas is introducing in Perth to benefit customers including:

Deploying an additional Airbus A330 aircraft this week for flights between Perth and the east coast of Australia ensuring that all Perth-Sydney and Perth-Melbourne weekday services are operated by Qantas A330s;

Expanding selected flight arrivals and departures from Terminal 4 into Terminal 3 which is due to commence over the coming weeks;

Constructing a new Qantas Club in Terminal 3;

Deploying larger aircraft on key intra-Western Australia routes to meet demand for corporate customers in the mining and resources sector; and

Introducing an international standard a la carte menu for business customers designed by Qantas Consulting Chef Neil Perry, on all flights from the east coast of Australia to Perth.

Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce, who visited Perth Airport today, said Qantas was committed to Western Australia for the long-term.
“The investment we are making in Western Australia, particularly the infrastructure improvements at Perth Airport, is providing a vital boost to the local economy,” Mr Joyce said.

“Qantas is committed to providing Western Australian based customers and visitors with the same high quality service on the ground as they receive in the air.

“In the next few weeks we will start our expansion into Terminal 3 and from late-2014 Qantas Domestic, Jetstar, QantasLink and some Network Aviation flights will operate from the same precinct. Sole access to these terminals will provide Qantas customers with a seamless airport experience.

“This follows recent investments to upgrade Terminal 4 with an expanded Qantas Club; improved security screening and faster, smarter check-in, free WiFi and a range of new dining and retail outlets to make the airport experience more enjoyable.”

The first flights to operate from Terminal 3 will be selected intra-WA and charter services followed by Jetstar services in the coming months.

Qantas and QantasLink have increased flights significantly over the past few years, now operating over 280 return flights with 75,000 seats to regional Western Australia each week.

Mr Joyce announced Qantas and QantasLink would deploy larger aircraft to key routes including Learmonth and Karratha as well as additional services to Geraldton, providing two early morning departures to Perth.

“We are growing our intra-WA business this year by about 22 per cent and that is largely because of the resource company contracts we have secured,” he said.

“Our diverse operations and fleet of aircraft mean that we have the flexibility to put on larger aircraft and increase capacity depending on the market conditions and demand from our corporate customers.”

Mr Joyce said the additional Qantas A330, which commenced flying this week, is the tenth to operate from Perth, and will provide business and leisure travellers a premium and consistent product and service.

“Qantas’ A330 aircraft offer superior space and comfort and have individual in-flight entertainment for all of our passengers, making them ideal for longer flights,” he said.

“It is our market leading aircraft, lounges, superior network, frequencies, lounges, on-time performance and frequent flyer program, which have seen us maintain our status as best for business and premium travellers in Western Australia.

“And from next year our A330s will be reconfigured to have lie-flat beds in Business, which will be one of the best domestic flying experiences in the world.”

The Qantas Group has more than 30 aircraft operating out of Western Australia including a fleet of Airbus A330, Boeing 737, Boeing 717, Fokker 100 and Boeing 767 aircraft with new interiors.