About Esperance Airport

Esperance Airport is owned and operated by the Shire of Esperance and is a vital transport hub for the region. As a Code 3 aerodrome, it supports a range of essential aviation activities, including:

  • Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) services between Perth and Esperance, servicing approximately 55,000 passengers per year
  • Charter flights
  • Emergency response operations, including aerial firefighting and around 250 Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) flights annually

Commercial passenger aircraft, charter services and emergency operations, such as DFES water bombers, all rely on Esperance Airport. This makes the airstrip a critical piece of infrastructure for both the Esperance region and the State of Western Australia.

Why the Main Runway Upgrade Is Needed

Two independent assessments have confirmed that the Main Runway’s subgrade and pavement require full reconstruction. As part of these necessary works, Council proposes to:

  • Lengthen the runway to accommodate larger aircraft
  • Expand route opportunities, opening Esperance to new destinations
  • Improve emergency capacity, enabling larger emergency services aircraft to operate safely

The project also includes upgrading the existing gravel cross strip to ensure RPT flights, RFDS operations, emergency services and charter flights can continue safely while reconstruction of the Main Runway takes place.

Operational Limitations

The condition of the Main Runway is already restricting operations:

  • Fokker F100 charter flights can only land under concessional arrangements
  • Jet operations are limited, preventing several aircraft from using the airport, including:
    • National Jet Express / Rex Embraer E190
    • Virgin Australia jet aircraft
    • RAAF Boeing 737 aircraft

These limitations reduce the flexibility, reliability and resilience of air services in and out of Esperance.

Impact on Emergency Response

The Main Runway cannot currently support Large Air Tankers (LATs), which are increasingly important in Western Australia’s aerial firefighting efforts. As a result, Esperance Airport cannot provide the expanded, rapid-response capacity needed for major bushfire events in the region and surrounding areas.

A draft plan of the Shire of Esperance proposed runway extensions 2023

Community Direction

2023 Community Scorecard Advocate for funding to upgrade the airport

  • More / longer runways to accommodate growth (larger airlines and larger aircraft)

Council Plan 10.4 Improve public and shared transport services

(2) - Design, fund and construct new Airport runway.