A FIFO commute from Perth starts with one question: where does your flight leave from? Perth Airport has four terminals and a General Aviation precinct, in two areas a 10-minute drive apart, and some charter flights leave from their own terminal. Your employer, or the travel email that comes with your roster, tells you which one. That answer decides how you get to the airport, where you park, how early you leave home and which suburb makes fly-out day easy.
This guide explains how FIFO flights to Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and mine sites work, using what the airports and airlines publish themselves, checked in October 2026. It contains no timetables and no fares: they change, and only your booking is right for your flight.
How do FIFO flights work?
There are two kinds of flight, and you may use both in one job.
- Charter flights. The employer, or a contractor, books a whole aircraft for its workforce. Port Hedland International Airport says several chartered flights transport workers to remote mine sites, and Qantas says its subsidiary Network Aviation, based at Perth Airport, operates services within WA for fly-in fly-out personnel, as well as corporate charters.
- Scheduled flights. Regular flights that anyone can book, such as Perth to Karratha, Newman or Port Hedland. Your employer's travel details say which kind you are on, and how you get from the arrival airport to site.
In both cases, the employer usually books the seat. What you need to check is who pays for the trip to the departure point. Fortescue, for example, says it offers FIFO flights to its Pilbara operations from Perth, Busselton, Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland, Newman, Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra, and that if you live outside these locations you arrange your own flights to one of them, at your own cost. That is one reason so many FIFO workers base themselves in Perth.
Careers FAQ (Fortescue)careers.fortescue.com
Which Perth Airport terminal do FIFO flights use?
It depends on the airline and on whether the flight is a charter. Perth Airport says it has two international terminals (T1 and T3), four domestic terminals (T1, T2, T3 and T4) and a General Aviation precinct. T1 and T2 are in one precinct, on Airport Drive. T3, T4 and General Aviation are in another, with T3 and T4 on Brearley Avenue and General Aviation on Valentine Road.
Here is the domestic and regional side of Perth Airport's own list, as published on 5 October 2026:
| Where | Airlines listed by Perth Airport |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Jetstar, Virgin Australia and international airlines. Qantas uses T1 only for Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands services |
| Terminal 2 | Aerlink, Alliance Airlines, Jetstar, Nexus, Rex Airlines, Virgin Australia |
| Terminal 3 | Airnorth, Qantas |
| Terminal 4 | Qantas |
| General Aviation (Valentine Road) | Maroomba Airlines, MinRes Air, National Jet Express, QantasLink, Skippers Aviation |
Two more details matter for FIFO workers:
- Network Aviation's charters have their own terminal. Qantas says charter flights QF2700 to QF2735, QF2770 to QF2775 and QF6590 to QF6599 operate from Network's dedicated terminal at 2 Newton Road, Perth Airport, while its scheduled flights depart from the Qantas terminal, T3/T4.
- Airlines use more than one terminal. Perth Airport's advice is to check your itinerary carefully, or contact your airline, to make sure you go to the right one. Read the terminal on every booking, not just the first.
If you go to the wrong precinct, Perth Airport runs a free terminal transfer bus between them, every 20 minutes from 6 am to 10 pm and every 30 minutes overnight. On an early check-in, that can still cost you the flight.
Which Terminal (Perth Airport)perthairport.com.au
What about Karratha, Newman and Port Hedland?
Each town's airport publishes its own information. None of it replaces your booking, but it tells you what to expect at the other end.
- Karratha. Karratha Airport's flight information page lists Qantas and Virgin Australia flights to and from Perth (checked 5 October 2026). Charter flights for mine and gas sites are booked separately by employers.
- Newman. The Shire of East Pilbara, which runs Newman Airport, says more than 47 regular public transport flights a week run between Newman and Perth, and that more than 450,000 passengers have been known to pass through the airport in a year.
- Port Hedland. Port Hedland International Airport says it has daily flights to Perth, along with chartered flights that transport workers to remote mine sites. It says its terminal opens 90 minutes before the first scheduled flight of the day, and that check-in times vary by airline, so confirm them with your carrier.
Fortescue lists Karratha, Port Hedland and Newman among its FIFO departure points, and says some roles are residential in Port Hedland and Karratha. If you are weighing a regional base against Perth, check where your flights would leave from before you choose. Finding a first role is covered in mining jobs in WA with no experience.
Flights (Port Hedland International Airport)porthedlandairport.com.au
How long does it take to get to Perth Airport?
It depends on your suburb, your terminal and the hour. Fly-out days often start before dawn, so test the trip at the time you will actually make it, not in the middle of the day.
- By train to T1 and T2. Airport Central Station, on the Airport Line, is linked to T1 and T2 by the Skybridge, according to Transperth's station map.
- By train and bus to T3 and T4. The Public Transport Authority says there is no direct connection from T3 and T4 to a train station. The free Route 292 bus links them to Redcliffe Station on the Airport Line.
- To General Aviation or the charter terminal. Neither is on that list. Plan a lift, a taxi, a rideshare or your own car, and check the address on your booking.
- Being dropped off. Perth Airport's Express pick-up and drop-off areas include a free period of 5 minutes at Terminal 2 and 6 minutes at Terminals 3 and 4, with overstay fees after that.
The suburbs closest to each terminal, and the first train from each station, are compared in where to live in Perth as a FIFO worker.
Airport Line and Route 292 (Public Transport Authority)pta.wa.gov.au
Can you leave your car at Perth Airport during a swing?
Yes, within limits. Perth Airport's own rules, checked in October 2026:
- Long-term parking is available at T1, T2, T3 and T4, with a free bus to the terminal every 15 minutes. LongTerm Undercover, with shade sails, is at T3 and T4.
- Regional parking is for people travelling from the General Aviation precinct.
- Maximum stay: 99 days. Perth Airport's booking terms say all vehicle stays must not exceed 99 days, and a car over that limit can be moved or towed.
- Online bookings are charged per 24 hours, from the time your booking starts. Staying past your booked exit is charged at the standard rates, not the online rate, so add your return flight's possible delays when you book.
- Allow time. The terms say Perth Airport is not responsible if you miss your flight, and list what to allow for: finding a space, unloading, the walk to the bus stop, the bus frequency and the ride to the terminal.
Prices change with the date and how far ahead you book, so check them on the Perth Airport parking page rather than trusting a figure you read elsewhere. You can also skip airport parking by living close enough for a short lift or ride, and leaving the car at home: the options are in where to live in Perth as a FIFO worker.
Online booking terms and conditions (Perth Airport)perthairport.com.au
What should you know about check-in and bags?
- Check-in closes earlier than you think. For Network Aviation charters, Qantas says check-in closes 30 minutes before departure, online or at the dedicated desk with your photo ID.
- Baggage allowances come with the booking. For charters, Qantas says the allowance is provided with your booking information. Scheduled flights follow the airline's normal rules. Pack to the stricter of the two if you connect.
- Carry photo ID. Qantas asks for it at the charter check-in desk.
- Dangerous goods stay home. Port Hedland International Airport reminds passengers that dangerous goods are prohibited and that comments or jokes about weapons, explosives or security are taken seriously and may lead to prosecution or refusal of carriage.
- Keep the travel email. It has the terminal, the check-in time and the contact if a flight changes. Delays happen in both directions, so leave slack on fly-back day.
Network Aviation, charter flights (Qantas)qantas.com
Why does living near the airport help?
Because you make the trip every cycle. Our own arithmetic: a 2:1 roster is a three-week cycle, so that is roughly 17 return trips a year (52 weeks ÷ 3), often at hours when the train is not yet running. FIFO rosters explained has the arithmetic for each roster.
A room near your terminal turns fly-out day into a short lift instead of a cross-city drive. For T3, T4 and General Aviation, that means suburbs around the airport, such as Belmont and Cloverdale, or Redcliffe with its station and the free bus. For T1 and T2, stations on the Airport Line, including High Wycombe, give you a train to the door. If you are moving to Perth for the job, settle your terminal first, then the suburb, then the room: the order is in moving to Perth for FIFO work: the complete checklist.
Kipmates is a room-share marketplace launching in Perth, built first for FIFO workers. Your roster sits on your profile, hosts can mark a household as FIFO-friendly, and listings show the weekly rent, the move-in date and an approximate area, so you can compare rooms by how far they are from your terminal. Arriving in Perth before your first swing? Get the room list: one email when Kipmates opens.
Looking for a room? Kipmates has your back.
FAQ
Which terminal do FIFO flights leave from at Perth Airport?
It depends on the airline and the flight. Perth Airport lists Qantas at T3 and T4, Virgin Australia and Jetstar at T1 and T2, regional airlines such as Alliance, Nexus and Rex at T2, and Skippers, MinRes Air, National Jet Express, Maroomba and QantasLink at General Aviation. Network Aviation charters use a dedicated terminal at 2 Newton Road. Check your booking every time.
Do FIFO workers pay for their own flights?
Usually the employer books and pays for the flight from its departure points. If you live somewhere else, you may have to get yourself there. Fortescue, for example, says workers living outside its pick-up locations arrange their own flights to one of them, at their own cost. Check your contract.
Which airlines fly from Perth to Karratha?
Karratha Airport's flight information page lists Qantas and Virgin Australia flights to and from Perth (checked 5 October 2026). Some FIFO workers fly on charters booked by their employer instead, which are not on public timetables.
How many flights are there between Perth and Newman?
The Shire of East Pilbara, which runs Newman Airport, says there are more than 47 regular public transport flights a week between Newman and Perth. Charter flights to nearby mine sites are additional.
How long can I park at Perth Airport during a swing?
Up to 99 days. Perth Airport's online booking terms say all vehicle stays must not exceed 99 days. Long-term parking is available at all four terminals and Regional parking serves General Aviation. Check current prices on Perth Airport's parking page.
How early should I get to the airport for a FIFO charter?
Follow the check-in time on your booking. For Network Aviation charters, Qantas says check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. Add the time to park, catch the car park bus or find the right terminal.
Sources
Checked October 2026.
- Which Terminal, Parking, Online Booking General Terms and Conditions and Pick-up and Drop-off, Perth Airport.
- Network Aviation, Qantas.
- Flight information, Karratha Airport, City of Karratha.
- Newman Airport, Shire of East Pilbara.
- Flights and At the Airport, Port Hedland International Airport.
- Careers FAQ, Fortescue.
- Free bus service to help tourists and locals better connect to the Airport Line (13 January 2025), Public Transport Authority of Western Australia.
- Airport Central Station overview map, Transperth.
