Perth Airport Terminal 2 starts operations - 2 March 2013; first new terminal for 26 years

2 March 2013 © David Eyre

Perth Airport's new $120 million Terminal 2 (formerly known as "Terminal WA") commenced operations on Saturday 2 March 2013, with the departure at 7:23am of Fokker 100 VH-FZO on Skywest flight XR295, a FIFO (Fly In, Fly Out) flight to Barimunya in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, serving BHP Billiton's Yandi iron ore mine.

Skywest Fokker 50 flight XR141 to Esperance was supposed to be the first flight, with a scheduled time of departure at 6:30am, but departure from Perth was delayed to to poor weather at Esperance.

The first arrival to the new terminal was Skywest Fokker 50 VH-FNH on flight XR114 from Geraldton at 8:01am.

Terminal 2 is the first new terminal to be built at Perth Airport for 26 years, and is a key milestone in Perth Airport's $750 million redevelopment program. It is located next to the International Terminal (Terminal 1).

The terminal was built by Broad Construction Services, with construction starting in September 2011. It took more than 250 personnel and 500,000 man hours to complete. Following staff training, operational trials of various features of the terminal were conducted by volunteers on 16 February 2013.

The Terminal uses a gas-fired power plant which generates electricity but also creates heat which is used to contribute power to the air-conditioning system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating this system took longer than expected, delaying completion of the terminal by nearly two months. Large shapes in front of the terminal which look like planter boxes are actually inlets for the air-conditioning system.

Aviation enthusiasts will be disappointed to learn that Terminal 2 is totally unsuitable for aviation photography, with no decent vantage points from inside the terminal.

Qantas domestic flights will continue to mainly use Terminal 4, but it will expand some operations into Terminal 3. Virgin Australia domestic flights will continue using Terminal 3, but will move to the new domestic pier being built at Terminal 1 in mid-2014.

PHOTOS:

BELOW: Terminal 2 exterior, showing the pick-up/drop-off loop road and the northern end (Arrivals). The planter boxes double as airconditioner inlets. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Terminal 2 exterior, showing the southern end (Departures/Check-In). Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: The pick-up/drop-off loop roa, with the International Terminal in the distance and Control Tower on the right. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Terminal 2 interior, showing the baggage carousels, which have displays showing which carousel has baggage for each flight . Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Terminal 2 interior, between the Departures and Arrivals area is a convenience store and a Coffee Club cafe. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Terminal 2 interior, check-in area at the southern end (Departures). There are 16 check-in counters, with space for new self-service terminals and bag drop technology for faster and easier check-in. The window at the end features a Western Australian salt lake. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Terminal 2 interior: After going through security sreening, there is a large Departure Lounge waiting area with plenty of seating and a bar, cafe, newsagent/bookstore and technology store. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Departures screen in the Departure Lounge, showing the first departures from Terminal 2. Flight XR141 to Esperance was supposed to be the first flight to use the new terminal, with a scheduled time of departure at 6:30am. However, departure from Perth was delayed to to poor weather at Esperance, so flight XR295 to Barimunya was the first flight. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Departure Lounge, showing the eight departure gates and passengers awaiting the first departures from Terminal 2. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Departure Lounge, showing the first passengers to use Terminal 2 - flight XR295 to Barimunya was the first flight, taking mine workers to BHP-Billiton's Yandi mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which departed at 7:23am. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: Unfortunately, this is the only view that can be obtained of aircraft on the tarmac. The first photo below was taken whilst the camera was pressed against the glass next to the departure gates. This hallway on the other side is an airside area, and can only be accessed by passengers and ASIC cardholders. The second photo shows a more zoomed in view, but still useless for aviation photography. Fokker 100 VH-FNY was the second departure from Terminal 2, operating the XR033 service to Port Hedland. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: First flight from Terminal 2: VH-FZO Fokker 100 of Skywest, departing to Barimunya at 07:23. Photos © David Eyre

BELOW: First arrival at Terminal 2: VH-FNH Fokker 50 of Skywest, arriving as flight XR114 from Geraldton at 8:01am. Photos © David Eyre