Perth Airport named best in country in ACCC Airport Monitoring Report

Perth Airport has been rated by Australia’s consumer watchdog as Australia’s best major airport for the first time. The recently released Australian Consumer and Competition Commission Airport Monitoring Report puts Perth Airport in top spot for overall service quality – the first time the airport has taken out the title as Australia’s best.

According to ACCC Chairman Rod Sims Perth Airport overtook Brisbane Airport with the highest overall quality rating of the four major capital city airports. “It is clear that Perth Airport’s investment program over the past few years has significantly improved the quality of the airport in the eyes of both airlines and passengers,” Mr Sims said Perth Airport has spent just over $1 billion redeveloping and expanding facilities over the past five years and since the completion of these projects, passenger and airline ratings of the airport’s quality of service have increased.

While Perth is best overall, Brisbane was a clear winner with passengers rated just under the “excellent” threshold, whereas WA’s premier airport Perth was a stand out with airlines. Perth Airport chief executive Kevin Brown said the ACCC endorsement of the airport showed its investment program was paying off for both airlines and passengers.

“This report confirms we’ve really hit the mark. These results show we’ve really changed the way the Western Australian public think about their airport. They’ve seen the results of a sensible investment plan and they like what they see,” said Mr Brown.

He stressed however that the next round of investment of $2.5 billion which will see a new runway, a major expansion of the international terminal and the move of Qantas services to the Airport Central Precinct is essential to maintain the ACCC rating.

The airport has been boosted by the recent introduction of Qantas direct flights between Perth and London, one of the longest flights in the world.

At Perth Airport the ACCC said that total aeronautical revenue grew by 5.7 per cent in real terms to $225.7 million, despite a drop-in aircraft movements and passengers. It added that “revenue per passenger rose by 7.2 per cent in real terms to $15.79.