Qantas and Perth Airport have signed a 12-year commercial agreement that will unlock a multi-billion-dollar wave of investment and transform Western Australia into a major domestic and international hub for both Qantas and Jetstar.
The hub will significantly enhance inbound tourism and give Australians more options when travelling to Asia, Africa, India and Europe.
As part of the agreement, Perth Airport will invest around A$3 billion (US$1.99 billion) in new terminal facilities and a new parallel runway which is expected to be open in 2028. This will form part of a A$5 billion capital investment programme by the airport, which will also deliver two multi-storey carparks, major access roadworks, and the airport’s first hotel.
Both Qantas and Jetstar will relocate all services to a new terminal in the Airport Central precinct, and will also invest in new aircraft. Qantas also plans to build a new engineering hangar in the Airport Central precinct.
In addition, Perth Airport will also invest in upgrades to Terminals 3 and 4, which will enable Qantas to add services and more destinations from Perth, including Auckland and Johannesburg from mid-2025. The works will also include gate upgrades to accommodate ultra-longhaul aircraft, including the airline’s Project Sunrise Airbus A350s which arrive from 2026 – both Qantas and Jetstar plan to add 4.4 million seats to and from Perth annually by the time the new terminal opens in 2031.
The new terminal will offer passengers seamless domestic and international transfer, check-in and bag drop facilities. Both Qantas and Perth Airport will work on plans for a multi-lounge precinct for international and domestic passengers with a new signature design and bespoke dining and wellness initiatives.
“This is the largest airport infrastructure deal in our history. It will enable us to create a world-class western hub and significantly expand our domestic and international services over the short, medium and long term,” commented Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, adding that the additional services will help create around 700 new jobs in Western Australia across pilots, crew, engineering and airport staff.
Perth Airport CEO Jason Waters shared: “This is a special moment in the history of aviation in Western Australia as this agreement will unlock the future for both Perth Airport and Qantas. Most importantly, it will deliver one airport for the people of Western Australia which will host all flight services giving them a seamless, world class travel experience.”
Cathay Pacific is set to redefine the Premium Economy class experience with its upcoming fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, adding 16 Premium Economy seats compared to other aircraft in its fleet.
With a focus on designing a premium cabin, the airline has taken a more human-centric approach in designing the new Premium Economy experience for guests travelling on their upcoming fleet of Boeing 777-300ER.
Set to fully deploy in early 2027, Cathay Pacific made major changes to the existing Premium Economy experience that it has been providing for its passengers since 2012. These changes are designed to make longhaul flights more comfortable for its passengers, which means that Cathay Pacific has to adjust various elements, starting from the seat.
While the size of the seat in the new Premium Economy does not change, the new ergonomics of the seats are more accommodating – improvements have been made to the seat padding and leg rest, and the new wing-shaped headrest. Even the LED reading lamp has moved from above the passenger to the seat, which accommodates the passenger’s seating position as they choose to sit up or recline.
Lastly, deploying and stowing tables in the Premium Economy class has been automated to buttons.
Even the entertainment system offerings have been upgraded. Passengers will now enjoy 15.6 inch 4K TV screens with a new graphical user interface when flying in Premium Economy. Passengers can also use their own headphones via Bluetooth pairing.
Cathay Pacific has also elevated the dining experience for its Premium Economy passengers, offering Jain meal options and plant-based options to health-conscious travellers. The airline also worked with several of China’s leading winemakers to update its wine selection for Premium Economy passengers.
Topping up the changes to the Premium Economy experience include two dedicated washrooms for these passengers flying on the Boeing 777-300ER.
Aircraft models such as the current A350s are candidates for this retrofitting in the future.