A new deal forged between Qantas and Perth Airport will pave the way for the reinstatement of the Australian airline’s Perth to Johannesburg flights as early as mid-2025.
Qantas and Perth Airport announced a landmark commercial agreement on Friday, May 31. Qantas says it will stimulate a multi-billion-dollar surge in investments, introducing new international and domestic flights to significantly boost Australia’s tourism sector. The flight is also expected to further boost inbound tourism from Australia, adding to the direct PER-JNB flights launched by SAA on April 28.
The commercial agreement at Perth Airport includes the enhancement of Terminals 3 and 4, where Qantas currently operates, increasing capacity until the new facilities are ready in 2031. Qantas had previously given the lack of space at terminals as a reason for its suspension of the Perth direct flights to Jakarta and Johannesburg.
The upgrades will also accommodate additional aircraft for ultra-long-haul flights, including the Project Sunrise Airbus A350-1000s, which is expected to begin service in 2026.
In what will be Perth’s largest-ever private infrastructure project, the plan also includes two multi-storey car parks, major roadworks, and the city’s first-ever airport hotel.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson hailed the agreement as a step towards creating a world-class western hub.
“Not only will it allow us to bring hundreds of thousands more travellers to and through Western Australia each year, it will also make it easier for overseas tourists to connect to more destinations across Australia.”
A component of the new deal is an agreement between the two parties on the timeline of a new parallel runway, scheduled to open in 2028.
