Qantas has scrapped plans for a seasonal Perth to Johannesburg service over a disagreement with Perth Airport over terminal use.
The service was to start in November and run through to March but the aircraft to be used has now been deployed elsewhere.
Speaking to media at the IATA AGM in Sydney, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said that the service was off and all future international expansion such as non-stop flights to Paris and Frankfurt were on hold until it resolved what he termed the “Perth Airport situation.”
The dispute centers on Qantas wanting to operate the Johannesburg flight from its new international wing in T3.
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Perth Airport has said that Qantas can use T1 on the eastern side of the airport for the flight but Qantas wants to use its new T3 facility to better handle transit passengers.
All Qantas flights – both domestic and international – use the airline’s T4/T3 facility on the western side of the airport.
This was part of an agreement that was struck with state government which helped with funding to support the Perth-London flight.
Part of that agreement is the possible Perth-Paris and Perth-Frankfurt flights from T3/T4.
Qantas argues that it needs to use the T4/T3 hub complex to quickly move passengers from around the state and Australia who wish to join its international flights from Perth.
Mr. Joyce said that the airline’ management would be meeting with Perth Airport’s new chairman Nev Power to discuss the matter.
“We are hoping to resolve the situation for the long term,” said Mr. Joyce.
However, Mr. Joyce added that the Johannesburg flight might be on for next year if the dispute could be resolved.
Mr. Joyce said that the airline needed long-term clarity on its operations at Perth Airport.
A Perth Airport spokesman said it is “committed to working constructively with all of our airline customers to deliver a more efficient and cost-effective airport to help them serve their customers and build their businesses.”
“The splitting of international flights across two separate and distant terminals requires significant ongoing subsidy to offset the additional costs,” the spokesman said.
“Centralisation at the T1 International Terminal will be faster and easier for passengers, more cost-effective for our airline customers and will build on the $4 billion dollars of investment already made by Perth Airport and the State and Federal governments in delivering road, rail, and terminal upgrades.
“We look forward to further discussions with Qantas on how we can deliver this for the people of Western Australia.”
