Qantas Group has opened an Emergency Procedures Training Centre and a new Jetstar cabin crew base in Perth, both located at Welshpool, the WA government said in a statement. The facility includes a virtual reality training space.
Perth Airport recorded 18.39 million passengers in FY26, a rise of 5.2%, with international passengers up 8.1% to 5.55 million, Business News Australia reported. Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said Western Australia is one of the group's most important growth markets and that Perth is on track to become its second-largest international gateway after Sydney. A deal struck with Perth Airport in May 2024 committed Qantas and Jetstar to moving all their services into a new Airport Central terminal, with a projected 4.4 million additional seats to and from Perth before the terminal opens in 2031.
The Jetstar Perth cabin crew base opened with 40 crew already in place and a target of 90 local roles in total, with ground school training for the newest Perth-based recruits under way at the new facility. Hudson said the training centre means Perth crew can undergo high-quality, practical training on the ground in WA without needing to fly east. An E190 door trainer is scheduled for installation at the Welshpool facility early in 2027, ahead of QantasLink bringing its E190 aircraft into service.
Over the summer holiday period, Jetstar will increase its Perth-Melbourne frequency to as many as four return services daily. QantasLink's inaugural Embraer E190 landed in Perth in September, while 19 Perth-based A320s operated by QantasLink are undergoing Wi-Fi installation along with seat and cabin upgrades. Premier Roger Cook said the two openings would build local training capability and generate skilled job opportunities for Western Australians.
Perth-based Qantas Group pilots and crew numbering more than 1,200 will no longer need to travel interstate annually for emergency procedures training, as that training is now available locally at the Welshpool centre. Perth-based QantasLink A320 passengers will gain access to Wi-Fi and upgraded cabin interiors as the refurbishment of 19 aircraft proceeds.
Official statements: WA
Reporting: Business News Australia
Written by Pick & Scroll News from the reporting and documents linked above.
