Perth Airport Sees Record 18M Passengers in 2025

Perth Airport in Western Australia recorded a new annual passenger milestone in 2025, exceeding 18 million travellers for the first time in its history as both domestic and international segments posted robust growth.

Total traffic reached 18.026 million passengers, up 6.6 per cent on the previous record of 16.9 million in 2024, reflecting sustained momentum in air travel demand across segments that include interstate, regional and international travel.

International passenger numbers were particularly strong, reaching 5.4 million and marking the highest annual tally on record. Domestic traffic also contributed materially, with regional (intrastate) travellers totalling 6.4 million and interstate passengers accounting for 6.2 million, both calendar‑year highs.

Airport chief executive Jason Waters said the 2025 results underscored Perth’s role as a gateway for Western Australia’s rapidly expanding aviation market. Historically driven by the resources sector and fly‑in/fly‑out traffic, the airport has seen leisure tourism and business travel increasingly shape demand patterns, broadening its traffic base.

The surge in passenger numbers coincides with network expansions by major carriers. Qantas began new direct services to destinations including Johannesburg and Auckland, while ANA operates daily flights to Tokyo. China Southern Airlines has also announced year‑round nonstop flights between Perth and Guangzhou, which are expected to bolster international traffic further in 2026.

Perth’s performance stands out within the Australian airport landscape, particularly as other major gateways have navigated varied recovery trajectories post‑pandemic. The broad distribution of growth across international, interstate and regional categories signals a diversified demand profile rather than reliance on a single traffic driver.

The record results emphasize the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure capacity, with Perth Airport advancing a multi‑billion dollar investment programme designed to support future traffic growth. Projects under the airport’s “One Airport” vision include construction of a new parallel runway, expanded terminal facilities, upgraded road access, new multi‑storey carparks and the establishment of an on‑airport hotel.

Work has begun on infrastructure upgrades across Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, alongside carpark construction and preparatory works for the new runway project. These developments aim to improve operational efficiency and passenger experience as the airport transitions toward its long‑term capacity goals.

Economic benefits from the expanded airport activity extend beyond aviation operations, with tourism, business travel and regional connectivity all contributing to broader growth in Western Australia. Airport officials have linked the numbers to confidence in both inbound international visitation and domestic travel, which supports retail, hospitality and service sectors.

The airport’s master planning also looks ahead to future passenger volumes, with forecasts suggesting annual traffic could grow toward 30 million over the next two decades. This long‑range outlook has informed prioritisation of capacity enhancements and coordination with airline partners on network development.

Perth Airport’s 2025 performance reinforces the strategic importance of robust airport infrastructure and route connectivity in driving aviation growth. As carriers continue to expand services and travellers return to various international and domestic destinations, the airport’s trajectory remains central to the aviation sector’s evolution in western Australia.