What Port Hedland International Airport does

Port Hedland International Airport (PHIA) is a private Australian airport infrastructure operator incorporated as PHIA Operating Co Pty Ltd and headquartered in Port Hedland, Western Australia. It holds a 50-year operating lease on the airport, acquired in March 2016 by AMP Capital and Infrastructure Capital Group (now Foresight Group Plc) for AUD $205 million, and is asset-managed by Dexus and Foresight. The airport occupies 817 hectares and operates a 2,500m main runway plus a 1,000m general aviation runway with medium-intensity runway lighting meeting MOS139 standards, a 1.22MW solar farm (reducing purchased energy use by 90%), and touchless licence-plate-recognition parking. It is the only international airport in the Pilbara region, designated as an Australian first-point-of-entry with Border Force and biosecurity operations.

The business serves four primary customer verticals: resources-sector FIFO workforce transport for Pilbara mining, offshore oil and gas personnel transport via a dedicated heliport established in 2018, scheduled passenger airlines (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Nexus Airlines), and freight/logistics operators including certified international cargo handling and oversize aircraft capability (Antonov 124). Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees — passenger service charges (AUD $37.73/pax), security screening (AUD $10.35/departing pax), landing fees (AUD $30.80 per 1,000kg MTOW), parking (AUD $19/day long-term, free under 30 minutes short-term), heliport managed services, industrial park and terminal property leasing, advertising, and cargo handling. The airport served more than 500,000 passengers annually and operates a 30-hectare Airport Industrial Park with RAV-10 rated road-train access. A new terminal opened in 2023 following a 2021 landside redevelopment, with the Board chaired by Honourable Cheryl Edwardes and comprising Dexus and Foresight representatives including Phil Baker, a 45-year aviation industry veteran.

Name

Port Hedland International Airport

Legal name

PHIA Operating Co Pty Ltd

Website

https://porthedlandairport.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Port Hedland International Airport operates the only international airport in Australia's Pilbara region under a 50-year lease, serving 500,000+ annual passengers across FIFO mining, offshore oil and gas, scheduled airlines, and freight with a 2.5km runway and dedicated heliport.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Hedland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Passenger Service Charges: Fixed wing passenger service charges apply to all embarking and disembarking passengers on scheduled RPT and charter operations. Transfer passenger charges also apply.
2. Landing Fees: Landing fees apply to all aircraft based on MTOW. Fixed wing per 1,000kg MTOW at $30.80, with higher rates for aircraft above 100,000kg MTOW at $46.40.
3. Parking Operations: Long term parking at $19/day or $133/week, with first 30 minutes free in short term parking. Revenue from contract parking accounts for regular users.
4. Heliport Operations: Dedicated heliport facility established 2018 providing fixed-wing to rotary-wing flight connectivity for offshore oil and gas operations. Services include refuelling, ground support, passenger marshalling, and airfreight.
5. Property Leasing: Commercial property leasing opportunities including aviation hangars, commercial offices, terminal retail spaces, industrial park precincts, and hotel/convention facilities.
6. Security and Facilitation Charges: Security screening charges per departing passengers, international passenger facilitation charges, and various airside environmental and escort charges.
7. Cargo and Freight Operations: International cargo terminal operator services, freight handling, and logistics services supporting the resources sector with time-critical freight movements including Antonov 124 operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Port Hedland International Airport operates the only international airport in Australia's Pilbara region, providing passenger terminal services, scheduled airline operations, dedicated heliport facilities for offshore oil and gas transport, international cargo handling, paid parking, commercial property leasing, and a 30-hectare industrial park. The airport generates revenue through landing fees, passenger service charges, parking, heliport services, freight handling, and property leasing, serving over 500,000 passengers and supporting the resources sector annually.

Product overview

Port Hedland International Airport is a physical infrastructure and service provider operating as a single integrated airport facility. The core offerings include passenger terminal services (check-in, security, departures/arrivals), parking services (short-term, long-term, and contract options), a dedicated heliport facility for offshore helicopter operations supporting the oil and gas industry, and cargo/freight handling services including certified international cargo terminal operations. Commercial services encompass property leasing (aviation hangars, commercial offices, retail spaces), the 30-hectare Airport Industrial Park with road-train access, and terminal/outdoor advertising. Passenger amenities include the Airport Bar & Cafe and ground transportation arrangements. The airport serves as the only International Airport in the Pilbara region, handling over 500,000 passengers annually with direct links to the world's largest iron ore export port and proximity to major oil and gas fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parking Services Short-term (first 30 minutes free), long-term ($19/day or $133/week), and contract parking with licence plate recognition, touchless payment, and accessible parking spaces for travellers and regular users.
• Heliport Services Dedicated heliport facility providing offshore helicopter operations, fixed-wing to rotary-wing connectivity, refuelling, ground support, passenger marshalling, and airfreight for oil and gas industry personnel transport to Bedout Basin facilities.
• Cargo and Freight Services Licensed International Freight Cargo Terminal Operator (CTO) services handling domestic and international freight including time-critical and oversize cargo for the resources sector, with capability for the world's largest aircraft such as the Antonov 124.
• Airport Industrial Park 30-hectare Airport Industrial Park with the only RAV-10 rated quad road-train access from Great Northern Highway, available for lease for industrial and commercial development.
• Property Leasing Commercial property leasing including aviation hangars, terminal retail and commercial spaces, hotel/convention facilities, commercial offices, and service station sites.
• Advertising Terminal and outdoor advertising opportunities at the airport, contracted through WA Billboards.
• Airport Bar & Cafe Food and beverage service located in the Departures Lounge after security, offering indoor and outdoor seating with coffee, hot food, sandwiches, and alcoholic beverages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ passengers served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• St John WAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to provide 24-hour publicly accessible defibrillators across the Hedland community. PHIA contributed $15,000 including $10,000 for defibrillator establishment and community initiatives.
• Royal Flying Doctor Service WAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished partnership supporting crucial life-saving aeromedical services. Current agreement provides $1M in operational savings to RFDS. All landing fees are waived for RFDS aircraft landing at PHIA.
• WA BillboardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvertising in the terminal and outdoors at the Airport is contracted to WA Billboards.
• SantosminorOthersOil and gas exploration company in the Bedout Basin region. Exploration includes the Dorado wells, estimated to be the third-biggest oil field in the greater North West Shelf.
• Carnarvon PetroleumminorOthersOil and gas exploration company operating in the Bedout Basin region near Port Hedland.
• Pilbara Cargo Terminal Pty LtdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLicensed International Freight CTO providing cargo terminal operations at the airport precinct. Handles domestic and international freight.
• Two Dogs Aircraft ManagementmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides itinerant ground handling, charter and baggage handling services at Port Hedland International Airport.
• Aero RefuellersminorOthersProvides fuel services 24/7 at Port Hedland International Airport.
• Air BP Port HedlandminorOthersProvides fuel services Monday to Friday 07:00 to 18:00 with 24/7 self-service Avgas available.
• H-RideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRideshare service operating from designated pick-up staging zone at the airport. Available via app or direct booking.
• Northwest Aviation ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAirline contracted ground handling service for lost or misplaced luggage, luggage left on baggage carousel, or damaged luggage.
• OzTaxisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaxi service operating from the airport, bookable on 08 9140 1313.
• Hedland TaxisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal taxi service operating from the airport, bookable on 08 9173 1010.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Newman Airport: Regional Pilbara airport heavily dependent on BHP and iron-ore mining workforce. Comparable as a FIFO-anchored, resources-sector single-asset airport operation in the same Pilbara catchment.
• Alice Springs Airport: Privately leased regional Australian airport supporting remote-area connectivity and tourism. Comparable as a regional, leased airport operator with mixed defence, tourism, and resources traffic.
• Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport: Western Australian regional airport serving mining communities in the Goldfields. Comparable as a resources-anchored regional WA airport operation with FIFO dependence.
• Karratha Airport: Regional Western Australian airport serving the Pilbara resources sector. Directly comparable as a FIFO and resources-driven regional airport, though smaller in scale and lacking international status.

Broad incumbents

• Gold Coast Airport: Privately operated Australian airport serving a mix of leisure and business demand. Comparable governance and lease-privatized structure; also previously led by Phil Baker.
• Adelaide Airport: Australian international airport operated under a long-term lease. Comparable ownership and regulatory structure; relevant because PHIA board director Phil Baker was formerly MD of Adelaide Airport.
• Perth Airport: Western Australia's primary international gateway and the only other Australian airport with comparable 2.5km runway capability. Comparable as a privatized Australian airport operator with international status, though significantly larger and more diversified.
• Auckland International Airport: Listed international airport operator in Australasia with diversified aeronautical and commercial revenue. Comparable as a long-dated concession-style airport asset, though larger scale and publicly traded.
• Brisbane Airport Corporation: Privately operated major Australian international airport with a long-dated lease structure comparable to PHIA's 50-year lease. Relevant as an institutional airport-operating peer serving resources and tourism demand.

Others

• Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations): Aeromedical partner of PHIA with waived landing fees. Thematically comparable as an aviation-services organization dependent on regional airport infrastructure in remote WA, and a significant community stakeholder rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/porthedlandairport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-hedland-international-airport
• Instagraminstagram.com/porthedlandairport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port Hedland International Airport