Perth Airport (PER) is Western Australia’s busiest airport. It is also the fourth-largest airport in Australia.
PER is located 10 km east of Perth’s Central Business District (the CBD) in its own suburb called “Perth Airport”.
In 2024, the airport recorded a record 17 million passengers. Of these, more than 5 million were international travelers. This ranked it fourth in Australia on both metrics.
Major Airlines - Qantas, Virgin Australia
Perth is a hub for Qantas and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.
The former is the Australian flag carrier and offers the greatest number of flights at PER, together with its regional brand, QantasLink. The latter is the regional arm of Virgin Australia, a major airline serving both domestic and international routes.
Other regional airlines serving Perth Airport are Alliance Airlines and Rex Airlines.
For budget travelers, the low-cost airline Jetstar offers many routes to cities in Australia and Southeast Asia.
The airport also accommodates various international carriers at Terminal 1, serving long-haul connections across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Some of these include Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, and Vietnam Airlines.
Click here to see a full list of airlines serving Perth Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates of PER
Perth Airport includes four terminals:
Terminal 1: Also known as the international terminal, most foreign airlines use T1. It also handles all Virgin Australia flights. T1 is located on the east side of the airport. It has 7 gates.
Terminal 2: Located next to T1, it serves regional flights operated by Alliance, Rex, and Jetstar. This terminal has 20 gates.
Terminals 3: Situated on the west side of the airport, in a separate precinct, about a 10-minute drive away from T1/T2. T3 is dedicated to Qantas domestic operations and all flights by Airnorth.
Terminal 4: Connected to T3, also on the west side of the airport. This terminal is exclusively for Qantas and QantasLink and has 9 gates.
Moving between T1 and T2 or between T3 and T4 is a matter of walking. Transferring between the T1/T2 precinct and the T3/T4 precinct is easy with the free shuttle. It runs every 20 minutes (06:00-22:00) and every 30 minutes during the night.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Perth Airport
Having a connecting flight at Perth Airport is usually very easy.
Transit is manageable within a precinct: gates are clustered, and walks are short. This includes transits within the same terminal, as well as connections between Terminals 1 and 2 (400 meters via a walkway) and between Terminals 3 and 4 (150 meters). Walking is feasible and convenient.
For cross-precinct transfers (e.g., transferring between Virgin and Qantas domestic flights), you will need to use the free shuttle bus. Allow at least 60 minutes to account for shuttle logistics and terminal security.
If you remain within the same terminal and have an onward flight with the same airline under the same PNR (reservation code), you can remain within the international transit area of the airport and won’t need a visa. Cross-precint transfers require a transit visa, unless you’re exempt or already possess another kind of visa.
For domestic-to-international connections, border formalities will be in the first/last airport (i.e., not Perth) as long as the flight number is the same. Different flight numbers will mean border formalities are completed at Perth Airport.
Longer layovers may allow you to check out some of the best places and activities in Perth.
Lounges at PER
Perth Airport has 9 lounges in total throughout its terminals, of which most are airline-specific.
This is an up-to-date list of available lounges by terminal:
T1 (International) has the most airline-owned lounges due to it being the terminal serving most foreign carriers. Such lounges include the Emirates Lounge, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, and Air New Zealand Lounge. The independent Aspire Lounge is also in T1 - entrance is paid at the door, 75 AUD per adult (44 AUD for kids).
T2 features an Alliance Lounge for eligible passengers.
T4, the terminal dedicated to Qantas, hosts both the Qantas Club and Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. These lounges offer enhanced amenities for members and premium travelers.
WiFi
All terminals offer a complimentary Wi-Fi network throughout the airport's public areas. The SSID is “Perth Airport Free WiFi,” and it doesn’t require any additional verifications.
Dining Options at Perth Airport
At Perth Airport, you can choose between various cafes, grab-and-go fast options, and sit-down restaurants in all terminals.
Dining options are located both before and after security, though you will have more choices airside.
In Terminal 1, it’s worth checking out Chicken Treat and the Long Neck Public House in the Domestic section and East x West, Jamaica Blue, and Little Creatures in the International section.
In Terminal 2 (only Domestic), go to the Otherside Brew Lounge for craft beers and bar fare, BARista T2 for coffee-meets-alcohol, or Hudsons for a hearty breakfast and sandwiches.
Terminal 3 is small, but it has a few dining options anyway. The Blackwood Beer & Wine is the go-to restaurant in this terminal, but if you don’t have much time, grab a cup of coffee from Gibson + Giles or a burger from Three Bears.
Lastly, Terminal 4 is where you will find foreign cuisine options such as Roll’d Vietnamese, regional favorites like Hatchery Collective Bar & Grill, and simple coffee houses like Swan River Espresso. Those in a hurry can instead opt for a bagel from CJ’s Bagel Co. and a cup of fresh juice from Boost Juice.
Transport to and from Perth Airport
Perth Airport is close enough to central Perth to be convenient for public transportation. Note that precinct T1/T2 and precinct T3/T4 are on two different sides of the airport.
The Airport Central Train Station is located outside T1/T2. A train to Perth CBD takes 15 minutes and costs 5 AUD. This service stops at Redcliffe Train Station, near T3/T4.
To reach T3/T4, use the interterminal shuttle provided by Qantas, or Bus 292, which is a circular service between Redcliffe Station and Terminals 3/4, with services as frequent as every 12 minutes.
A wholly alternative option to reach the city center is Bus Route 940. It runs between Elizabeth Quay Bus Station and Redcliffe Station via Great Eastern Highway.
Bus Route 37 runs between Airport Central (T3/T4) and Oats Street Station but only during weekdays.
Taxis and ride-hail services such as Uber and DiDi operate from forecourts at all terminals. Depending on traffic conditions and destination, a trip to the city will set you back around 70-90 AUD.
Parking at Perth Airport
Perth Airport provides parking options for different lengths of stay and budget constraints near both T1/T2 and T3/T4 precincts.
The different parking lots are:
Short Term: Park right outside any terminal. Perfect for greeting or dropping off family and friends. Free for the first 10 minutes, then the price is calculated every 15 minutes. The first hour costs 18.40 AUD.
Short Term Saver: A budget option only available near T3/T4, just 5 minutes on foot away from the terminals. Also free for the first 10 minutes, then calculated per 15-minute segments. The first hour costs 14.60 AUD.
Long Term: Much better value for longer stays. Available near all terminals with a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes to the terminal. The first hour is free, and up to 4 hours of stay costs just 10 AUD, while the first day costs 36 AUD. Less for each additional day.
Long Term Undercover: A covered long-term option near T3/T4. Does not offer a free stay in the beginning, and the first hour costs 19.80 AUD. It’s charged per 15 minutes.
Premium: Available at T3/T4 and just 1 minute away from check-in. This convenience comes at a premium price too - 8.40 AUD for the first 5 minutes, and 31.80 AUD for the first hour.
Hotels near Perth Airport
Currently, there is no airport hotel on-site.
However, nearby hotels, such as the Ingot Hotel Perth, Ascend Hotel Collection, offer shuttle services. It is about 3.5 km from Terminals 3/4.
Closer still is the Airport Bed & Breakfast - a 3-star lodging with an impeccable track record for guest satisfaction, located just 100 meters from Radcliffe Station and less than 2km from the airport.
On the other side of the airport, near T1/T2, options are scarce. It’s better to take the train to T3/T4 and stay there. Or proceed to Perth CBD and find a hotel in the city center.
Perth, WA, Australia
