Esperance Airport Statistics

Published 15 July 2026 · Updated 8 Sept 2026

Esperance Airport (EPR) serves as the main aviation hub for the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia, connecting the coastal town of Esperance to Perth through regulated air services operated exclusively by Regional Express (Rex) Airlines.

How many passengers pass through Esperance Airport each year?

Esperance Airport handles around 50,000 to 57,000 passengers annually.

In 2025, the airport recorded 56,256 passengers, its highest on record, reflecting steady growth in regional air travel.
Before the pandemic, 51,336 passengers passed through in 2019.
Passenger traffic dropped to 31,930 in 2020, a 37.8% decline.
Recovery followed with 45,939 in 2021, then accelerated with 52,447 in 2022.
Passenger volume further increased to 53,642 in 2023 and 56,122 in 2024.

Bar chart of annual passenger volume at Esperance Airport from 2017 to 2025, showing a sharp dip in 2020 then recovery to record highs. — Annual passenger volume at Esperance Airport (2017–2025).

What is the total number of aircraft operations at Esperance Airport each year?

Esperance Airport sees approximately 1,800-2,300 RPT takeoffs and landings annually.

The airport recorded 2,251 RPT movements in 2025, a slight decline from the previous year.
Before the pandemic, 2019 saw approximately 1,926 movements.
Operations dropped to around 1,262 in 2020, the lowest during the pandemic period.
Recovery progressed steadily with 1,816 in 2021, 2,013 in 2022, and 2,091 in 2023.
In 2024, there were 2,294 total scheduled aircraft movements, the highest level in recent years.

Bar chart of annual aircraft operations (regular public transport only) at Esperance Airport from 2017 to 2025, showing a 2020 dip followed by growth to a peak in 2024. — Annual aircraft operations at Esperance Airport, regular public transport only (2017–2025).

Which airlines operate the most flights out of Esperance Airport?

Regional Express (Rex) is the only airline providing scheduled air services at Esperance Airport, operating under a fully regulated state government contract.

Rex accounts for 100% of scheduled passenger flights, exclusively serving the Perth-Esperance route.
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines previously operated this route until 2016, when services were discontinued.¹

How many routes are there at Esperance Airport?Esperance Airport operates one scheduled commercial route: Perth-Esperance. It is the region's only regular public transport air service.
There are no international routes.
Charter flights occasionally serve regional mine sites or tourism locations, but these are limited and not part of regular operations.
The Perth-Esperance route is about 720 kilometers, with a flight time of 1.5 hours compared to an 8-hour drive.

How much cargo does Esperance Airport handle annually?

Cargo operations at Esperance Airport are limited and appear to be focused on small-scale domestic air freight rather than dedicated cargo services.
All cargo is domestic, with no international freight handled at the airport.

What are the main causes of flight disruptions at Esperance Airport?

The main causes of flight delays or cancellations include:

Pilot and crew shortages, which affected Rex's operations across Western Australia in 2022 and 2023.¹
Aircraft maintenance, though Rex's Saab 340 fleet is generally reliable.
Weather, especially morning fog in winter and occasional storms, though daytime-only operations limit weather impacts.
Perth Airport congestion, sometimes causing knock-on delays for Esperance flights.
Seasonal flight reductions, especially in December and January, when lower demand results in fewer scheduled services.

What are the notable incidents at Esperance Airport?

May 13, 1980: A Skywest Airlines Swearingen Metro II suffered a right engine failure on final approach and landed short of the runway in a paddock. All 12 passengers and crew survived with no serious injuries, though the aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The failure was traced to a fuel control system issue.
May 26, 2007: A private Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV crashed about 2 km west of the airport at night in poor weather. All 3 people on board died. The ATSB cited likely pilot disorientation in bad weather.
January 6, 2023: A Boeing 737-300 water bomber crashed during firefighting operations in Fitzgerald River National Park. Both pilots survived with injuries. Though not at the airport itself, the crash occurred within the broader Esperance region and involved regional aviation.

References

ABC: Discontinuation of Virgin Airlines and pilot/crew shortages · abc.net.au ↑ b
Australian Airports Traffic Data · bitre.gov.au