Perth Airport: Terminal 1 International Observation Deck

• Great for morning photography
• Lift and stairs available
• Under cover
• Single-layer glass windows.
• Seating available, not in the way of the windows
• Arrivals and Departures TV monitors
• Toilets
• Snack and drink vending machines
• Water fountain
• Good views of traffic landing on runways 21 and 24 and taking off from runways 03 and 06, but photography requires telephoto lens of at least 300mm for large aircraft, more for smaller aircraft.
• Good views of aircraft parked at international terminal (apart from bays 151 and 156)
• Good views of aircraft taxying to or from the terminal.

• Afternoon photography will sometimes be facing the sun
• Reflections from windows can be an issue for photography
• Not air conditioned – can be cold in winter and hot in summer
• No restaurants or cafes, unless you go down to the first floor
• Aircraft parked at Bays 151 or 156 will be partly obscured by lighting poles and the terminal structures for T1 International and T1 Domestic.
• Aircraft parked at Bays 160, 161, 162 and 163 will usually be parked with nose or tail towards terminal.
• Lighting poles cause shadows on aircraft in the early daylight hours
• Domestic terminals T3 and T4 (Qantas/QantasLink/Jetstar are on the opposite side of airport, too far away for decent photos.
• Photographing aircraft on runways requires a telephoto lens of at least 300mm
• Aircraft taking off runways 21 or 24 will be too far away at rotation – likewise, aircraft touchdown point for landings on runways 03 and 06 is too far away.
• Airport parking costs.
• One option is to park at Belmont Shopping Centre (free) and to use the fairly cheap Transperth bus (route 380) to get to the terminal, but be aware the parking at Belmont Forum has a 4 hour limit. Fines will be issued for parking longer, and this also applies if you park for two periods the same day with a total exceeding 4 hours.

Note there are plenty of seats available, and the snack and drink vending machines are visible.

Plenty more seats available here. The toilets and water fountain are just left of the blue sign, about halfway along the Observation Deck.

The doors on the right of photo are not tinted, providing improved light for photography in certain situations.

Bay 56 is used as a parking area and has no airbridge. Later in the morning, this aircraft would be towed to another bay with an airbridge and flown to Denpasar (Bali) as flight JQ116.

The lighting poles, Bay 55 sign as well as terminal structures make Bay 56 no good for photography from the Observation Deck, apart from close-ups of tails.

This Bay is fine for photography, but aircraft are in shadow in the morning. Afternoon is better.

Although the lighting is better in the afternoon, the angle of the sun in late afternoon can cause lighting pole shadows, as seen here on the forward fuselage.

V8-BLF Boeing 777-212ER (cn 30869/366) of Royal Brunei parked on Bay 60, which was later towed to a Bay with an airbridge and departed at 14:00 to Bandar Seri-Bagawan (Brunei).

To the left of the Royal Brunei aircraft is Bay 61 (empty).

Morning photos suffer from the aircraft being in shadow, so afternoon photos are better.

Photo using a 300mm telephoto lens.

9M-XXD Airbus A330-343X (cn 1066) of Air Asia X, arriving from Kuala Lumpur later than usual as flight D7 2714.

It is seen here taxying past Bay 54 to park at 55, with an empty Bay 61 behind.

In the distance, a Qantas Boeing 737-838 is landing on runway 21.

Sunlight would have been coming from the left in the afternoon, making for a better photo. In the morning, the aircraft is in shadow as seen here.

Taxiway S is at the right centre of this photo.

Both taxiways to the International Terminal are visible in this view – Taxiway T on the left, and Taxiway S on the right.

Photo taken from near Bay 53.

At this early part of the morning, the shadows from lighting poles ruin photos after they pass this point (see next photo below).

Bay 52 (morning):

Shadows from lighting poles ruin photos after they turn line up with the bay for parking.

As Bay 52 is at the west end of the Observation Deck, the airbridge, lighting pole and terminal structure prevents photos of the whole aircraft. However, close-ups of the nose are possible.

In the afternoon, just before turning in, aircraft are in shadow, but as they taxy further around the tarmac (e.g. or turn to face Bay 52 or taxy to Bays 53 – 56, the lighting improves.

After this point, the stairwell at the right prevents photos of the whole aircraft. (see next photo).

Note that there is some window reflection (light colour near left).

Bay 52 (afternoon):

Note that the terminal, airbridge and lighting pole obstruct photos, however close ups of the nose are possible. Would have to wait for pushback to get a decent photo of an aircraft parked here, or take it before it parks.

A Falcon 900 business jet is parked at Bay TL6. A Skywest Fokker 100 is on runway 03 behind. Perth city is visible in the distance.

No matter what time of day, the airbridge and lighting pole obstruct photos, so photos should be taken before aircraft park or after pushback.

Terminal structure and lighting poles, as well as the airbridge for Bay 51 obstruct the nose of aircraft parked here.

However, close ups of the tail are possible, with the city as a backdrop.

Parked at Bay TL6, which is frequently used by business jets. This bay is located just behind Bay 50.

VH-QPC Airbus A330-303 (cn 564) of Qantas, named “Broken Hill”, is being towed over to Terminal 2 – the Qantas Domestic Terminal, after it arrived on an international flight.

Terminal 3 can be seen in the background on the right. The old 1962 control tower and fire station is soon to be demolished.

At this early hour just after sunrise, the aircraft is still in shadow.

Take-off on runway 03 (morning):

Taking off runway 03 (morning). Terminal 2 (Qantas Domestic) is on the left.