Perth Airport cracks down on illegal taxi drivers: $3B upgrade begins
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- WA transport chief Rita Saffioti ordered new compliance blitzes against illegal taxi drivers at Perth Airport.
- At least one driver was fined in court, and more investigations are still open.
- Perth Airport also revealed a $3 billion upgrade plan. A new terminal is targeted for 2031.
Perth Airport is in the news for two big reasons. The state government is cracking down on illegal taxi drivers there. It also revealed a $3 billion upgrade that will merge its four terminals into one.
The taxi crackdown started this week. Western Australia transport minister Rita Saffioti announced stronger checks on illegal taxi operators. Perth Airport is the main focus.
The Crown Casino and Burswood area is included too.
Officers will run more compliance blitzes at the airport. These are surprise checks on drivers and vehicles. According to Saffioti, "secret shopper" style checks already ran several times this year.
At least one driver has faced a court fine. More investigations are still open.
What happened
Illegal taxi drivers have been a problem at the airport for years. They pick up passengers without a proper licence. Some pretend to be real taxis.
Others use ordinary private cars. Honest drivers say this is unfair and unsafe.
Perth taxi driver Jonathan Masih spoke about the problem. He said illegal drivers work in groups to avoid checks. They warn each other when officers are near.
Masih called this "wage theft". He said it takes money away from legal drivers.
Masih also raised a safety concern. Unlicensed cars may lack insurance. Passengers have no way to complain if something goes wrong.
He said he reported the problem many times. He spoke to airport staff, federal police, and the transport department. He said very little changed.
The government is now using data to catch cheats. Tracking systems found fares that did not match the trip distance. A short trip with a high fare is a red flag.
Saffioti said the checks will look at vehicle safety. They will also check driver licences and company registrations.
Why it matters
This crackdown matters for every traveller. An illegal taxi is a risky ride. There is no paper trail.
There is no guarantee the driver passed a background check. The car may not meet safety rules.
It also matters for honest drivers. They pay for licences and insurance. Illegal drivers skip those costs.
They can charge less and still keep more money. Saffioti said the goal is to protect hard-working drivers. The aim is to push out those who break the rules.
The timing adds pressure. Perth Airport chief Jason Waters warned of big disruptions ahead. The airport plans to merge four terminals into one precinct.
That is a huge building project. Legal drivers fear illegal operators will use the chaos to hide. More crowds and confusion can make the airport harder to police.
What happens next
On the taxi side, more blitzes are coming. The government said checks will continue with local and federal police. More drivers could face fines as the open investigations close.
On the upgrade side, the plans are now public. Renders for the new terminal were revealed on October 26. The design firm Woods Bagot drew up the concept. The plan is called "Big Sky/Deep Earth".
It draws on Western Australia's landscape and local heritage.
The numbers are large. The new terminal would cover 159,000 square metres. It would have 22 new contact gates.
Around 10,000 square metres would go to shops and food outlets. The project also includes a new parallel runway. Two multi-storey car parks are part of the plan.
The airport will get its first hotel too.
Qantas and Perth Airport signed the deal in May 2024. The reported price was A$3 billion. The target opening is 2031. Qantas would then move its flights to the new central terminal. But Waters has not locked in the final budget or date.
He said it is still too early to confirm either.
Early work may start within 12 months. One of the two new car parks is already built. It should open before the end of 2026. Hotel building is expected to restart in late 2027. It should open before 2030. The full project adds about 4.4 million seats a year on flights to and from Perth.
The airport handled a record 18.4 million passengers in the 2026 financial year. About 5.55 million were international travellers. The forecast puts total traffic at 30.8 million by 2046. The new terminal will be almost three times bigger than terminals 3 and 4 combined.
Technology is part of the plan. New biometric systems will track passengers from entry to boarding. The aim is shorter queues and faster security.
Sensory rooms, play areas, and multi-faith rooms are planned too.
WA Premier Roger Cook backed the project. He noted that 95 per cent of visitors to Western Australia arrive by air. He called Perth the state's western gateway.
But travellers should expect pain first. Waters warned of five to six years of disruption. Thousands of builders will work on the site.
The airport will stay open around the clock. Competing projects across the state may slow things down. His advice was simple: plan ahead.
Do not get caught out at the last minute.
The bottom line for travellers
Flying through Perth in the next few years means two things. Expect building work and possible delays. And when you land, stick to marked taxi ranks or known ride services.
The crackdown is under way, but illegal drivers will not vanish overnight. A licensed ride costs a little patience. It buys safety and a fare you can trust.
If you fly in Australia, why airports sometimes board planes from the back door is worth a read.
Also see why airport codes look nothing like city names when you book your next trip.
For more Australian aviation news, read about the Qantas ground workers strike at five airports.
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