A $200 million airport that could eventually become WA’s second international airport is being planned for Cunderdin in WA’s Wheatbelt.

The internationally rated airport will initially be a diversion airport for Perth.

It will cut airline fuel costs while attracting new airlines to the State because of the operational safety benefits it will offer.

WA-based Ascent Aviation’s plans to redevelop Cunderdin Airport with a 2600m runway with full international landing aids to meet diversion standards are well advanced.

The facility, expected to initially cost between $40 million and $60 million, will have the capacity for up to four A380-sized planes.

The cost benefits to airlines are significant because most international flights carry extra fuel in case they need to divert to Adelaide or Exmouth and beyond.

But some of those sites are up to three hours from Perth, whereas Cunderdin is a little more than 15 minutes away and it is not affected by the same weather that affects the coast.

One international airline told The Weekend West it would look at services to Perth once the airport was operational. Ascent Aviation’s founder and managing director Benjamin Reid said the first phase of the redevelopment was as an emergency alternative to Perth Airport, as outlined in the State Government’s State aviation review.

The second phase would be the development of a pilot training college, and the third phase the handling of cargo freighters.

Phases two and three would take the cost to $200 million.

The final phase could be as Perth’s second airport.

Cunderdin is 158km from Perth but is located on the Perth to Kalgoorlie rail link, thus a high-speed connection is possible.

“Airlines have to compensate for Perth’s isolation, and weather, by loading significant reserve fuel allowing the aircraft to carry on to the next suitable airport if they can’t land at Perth,” Mr Reid said.

“From the outset, we achieved superb in-principle support from major international airlines.

“We secured our foundation international airline customer and are in advanced discussions with the remainder of the key airlines.”

Mr Reid said the Shire of Cunderdin and the Wheatbelt Development Commission had been very supportive as had the WA Department of State Development.