AUSTRALIA. Perth Airport has revealed concept designs for its new terminal, featuring around 10,000sq m of retail, dining and hospitality space as part of a multi-billion-dollar transformation of Western Australia’s principal aviation gateway.
The new commercial footprint will form a key component of the 159,000sq m terminal, the centrepiece of the airport’s wider One Airport development programme to consolidate flight operations into a single central precinct.
The project promises significant opportunities for travel retail and food & beverage operators as Perth Airport prepares for sustained growth in domestic and international passenger traffic.
The airport served a record 18.4 million passengers in FY2026, including 5.55 million international travellers.
Total traffic is forecast to reach 30.8 million by FY2046, with international passenger numbers projected to more than double from FY2025 levels to 11.4 million.
The new terminal will be almost three times the size of the existing terminals 3 and 4 combined and 25% larger than terminals 1 and 2 combined.
It will feature 22 additional contact gates serving widebody and narrowbody aircraft, including flexible ‘swing gates’ capable of accommodating both domestic and international operations.
Passenger experience enhancements will include a central landscaped courtyard, extensive natural light and views towards the airfield and Perth Hills, alongside sensory rooms, multi-faith facilities, a children’s playground and parent rooms.
Automated check-in and bag drop, advanced baggage handling, a co-located domestic and international security checkpoint, and call-to-gate initiatives are also planned to improve passenger processing and operational efficiency.
The terminal’s architectural concept, developed with Australian design firm Woods Bagot, is titled Big Sky/Deep Earth. It draws inspiration from Western Australia’s landscape and the cultural heritage of Whadjuk Noongar Country, with local identity, climate and natural light influencing the design.
Perth Airport CEO Jason Waters said, “A good airport moves passengers efficiently, but a great airport also gives them a sense of the destination they are in – this design delivers both outcomes.
“While the New Terminal designs show one big new building, the design team has also considered the hundreds of small things that will add up to a better experience for everyone.”
The terminal development forms part of the broader One Airport investment programme, which also encompasses a new runway, road upgrades, transport hubs, hotel infrastructure and urban development.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook commented, “A new world-class terminal precinct will deliver a major boost to Western Australia’s economy.
“This multi-billion-dollar investment further strengthens Perth’s position as Australia’s Western Gateway, an important role given that 95% of visitors to the State arrive by air.
“My government remains focused on growing aviation capacity and working closely with Perth Airport and airline partners to expand our tourism sector as part of our work to diversify the economy and create more local jobs for Western Australians.” ✈
