Power Outage Halts Operations at Perth Airport Amid Kalamunda Bushfire

A sudden loss of electricity has forced the temporary closure of Perth Airport, preventing aircraft from landing and halting terminal operations. Passengers on inbound flights have been instructed to disembark, and several arrivals are experiencing delays. Airport staff reported that the outage began roughly half an hour before the fire’s impact reached nearby homes, coinciding with the loss of power throughout the airport precinct.

WAtoday

Western Power identified the bushfire burning in the foothills of Kalamunda as the source of the power failure. The fire, which ignited earlier in the afternoon, spread toward residential areas and compromised the electrical infrastructure supplying the airport. The timing of the outage aligns with the fire’s advance, suggesting a direct link between the two events.

WAtoday

The spokesperson added that passengers should anticipate delays while the situation is resolved. Western Power indicated that electricity is expected to be restored “around 7 pm,” providing a tentative timeline for full service resumption. By 4 pm, some airport systems had begun to come back online, allowing limited operations to restart.

WAtoday

The disruption has immediate consequences for travelers, including missed connections and the need to rearrange itineraries. Airlines operating out of Perth are adjusting schedules, and ground-handling services are operating at reduced capacity. The outage also affects cargo movements, potentially delaying freight shipments that rely on the airport’s hub status.

WAtoday

Authorities expect power to be fully restored by the early evening, after which normal flight schedules should gradually resume. Ongoing monitoring of the Kalamunda fire will determine whether additional outages could occur, but officials have stressed that contingency plans are in place to minimize further passenger inconvenience.

WAtoday