About Perth Airport
WA's only international airport — gateway to Margaret River, Coral Coast, Kimberley and Rottnest Island. Four terminals across two precincts.
Getting There
By train
Airport Line trains run every 10 minutes from T1/T2 station to Perth CBD. 18 minutes, $5.80 one-way — opened 2022, transformed onward travel from Perth Airport. Connects to other Transperth services at Perth Underground.
By car
Tonkin Highway connects directly to T1/T2 from Perth CBD (12 km, 15–20 minutes off-peak). T3/T4 reached via separate access road. Drop-off zones at all terminals.
By taxi & rideshare
Taxi to CBD: $40–$50, 20 minutes. Uber, DiDi, Ola available — pickup zones at all terminals. Late-night premium often applies after 22:00.
By bus
Route 380 Transperth bus runs to CBD (cheaper than train but slower).
Hire car for outbound touring
Most major hire companies have terminals at T1/T2 and T3/T4. Pre-book a 4WD or hatchback for Margaret River (3 hours south via Kwinana Freeway) or the Coral Coast (Geraldton 4 hours north).
Transfers
Parking
Visitor Tips
- •T1+T2 (main building, international + Qantas) and T3+T4 (Virgin/Jetstar) are separate precincts — 5 min by car
- •Allow 90 min between precincts; 45 min within a precinct
- •Airport Line train (opened 2022) reaches Perth CBD in 18 min for $5.80
- •FIFO peak hits 04:00-06:00 — busier than typical capital airports at that hour
- •WA quarantine confiscates fresh produce, honey and certain plants even from interstate
Airport Layout
Runway configuration and terminal area for Perth Airport.
Runways
2 runways • longest 3,444m • total 5,607m • Wide-body capable (e.g. Boeing 777, Boeing 787)
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Headings | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21 | 3,444 m | 45 m | Asphalt | 14° / 194° | Yes |
| 06/24 | 2,163 m | 45 m | Asphalt | 59° / 239° | Yes |
Security & screening at Australian airports
Recommended arrival times
- Domestic flights: arrive 60 minutes before departure
- International flights: arrive 2–3 hours before departure (longer for first-time international travellers)
What you can carry on
- Liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs): containers up to 100ml for international flights, all in a single transparent 1L resealable bag. Domestic flights have no LAG restrictions on most airlines.
- Lithium batteries (in personal devices): allowed in carry-on only. Spare batteries up to 100Wh permitted in carry-on; batteries over 160Wh prohibited.
- Sharp items including scissors with blades over 6cm, knives, and tools must be packed in checked baggage.
Prohibited items
- Firearms (require declaration and approval)
- Explosives, flammable liquids, compressed gases
- Pepper spray, mace, tear gas
- Self-defence weapons including knuckle dusters
Full list: ABF prohibited items
International arrivals — biosecurity
Australia has strict biosecurity laws. Declare all food, plant material, animal products, soil, wooden items, and outdoor equipment on your Incoming Passenger Card. Fines start at AUD $626 and undeclared prohibited items can result in penalties up to $660,000 or visa cancellation. When in doubt, declare it.
Useful links
- Smart Traveller (DFAT) — travel advisories
- Australian Border Force — customs and biosecurity
- Aviation Security (Department of Infrastructure)
Specific to Perth Airport
Perth is the launchpad for Margaret River, the Coral Coast, Kimberley road trips, and Rottnest Island. WA's isolation means quirks travellers should know about.
Four terminals, two precincts
T1 + T2 at the main building (international + Qantas + Virgin Regional). T3 + T4 (Virgin domestic, Jetstar) in a separate complex 5 minutes by car. Free interterminal bus runs frequently. Allow 45 minutes for transfers within a precinct, 90 minutes between precincts.
SmartGate at T1
Eligible ePassport holders 16+ from standard countries clear in under 90 seconds. T1 also operates the SmartGate biosecurity declaration kiosk after immigration.
FIFO peak hours hit hard
Perth has the highest FIFO (fly-in-fly-out) traffic in Australia for WA mining (Pilbara, Goldfields). Expect 04:00–06:00 peaks at T2 and parts of T1 — atypical for a capital city. Tourists transiting through these times may find security queues longer than expected.
Best landing approach for views
Approaches from the west give left-side window views of the Indian Ocean, Rottnest Island, and the Swan River. Sunset arrivals from Asia are spectacular.
WA's extra-strict interstate biosecurity
Even domestic arrivals from other states lose fresh fruit, vegetables, honey, and certain plants at WA quarantine — there is a barrier between WA and the rest of Australia. International arrivals also face heightened inspection on soil-borne pests and exotic plant material.
Getting to Perth or Margaret River
Train (Airport Line) to CBD: 18 minutes, $5.80 — opened 2022, transformed onward travel. Taxi to CBD: 20 min, $40–50. Hire car from any terminal — head south on Kwinana Freeway for Margaret River (3 hours).
Nearby Attractions
Quick Facts
Stay connected on arrival — Airalo eSIM
Skip airport SIM kiosks — install Airalo before you fly and activate the moment you land.
Scan to install on your phone
Quick Stats
- Class
- international
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 3,444 m
- Max aircraft
- Wide-body capable
- Elevation
- 20 m
- Annual passengers
- 16.9M(2024)
- Opened
- 1938
At a Glance
Airport Codes
- IATA
- PER
- ICAO
- YPPH
Location
- City
- Perth
- State
- Western Australia
- Timezone
- Perth
Plan Your Visit
- Best Time
- Cooler months (Apr-Oct) are tourism peak for <a href="/au/places/wa/margaret-river/margaret-river">Margaret River</a> and Kimberley. Summer (Dec-Feb) sees school holiday crowds and 40°C+ heat in the north.
Good to Know
Airlines
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