200,000 reasons to celebrate Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme

• Major milestone reached in Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme
• More than 200,000 capped airfares now flown since scheme's inception
• Latest quarter results show most flights used in any quarter to date
• Initiative easing cost of living pressures for regional families

The Cook Labor Government's groundbreaking Regional Airfare Zone Cap (RAZC) scheme has reached a major milestone with 200,000 discounted airfares now flown since the scheme's inception.

Established in July 2022, the scheme is the first of its kind in Australia and has been a major success, helping ease cost of living pressures by capping the total airfare amount regional residents pay for flights to and from Perth.

The scheme is delivered in partnership with six participating airlines to provide regional residents with access to capped airfares to Perth for either $199 or $299 one-way, when booked as a return fare for personal travel.

In the most recent quarter, more than 50,000 capped airfares were used, representing a 17.8 per cent increase from the previous quarter and the highest number of airfares used during any quarter in the history of the scheme.

Karratha residents used the largest number of capped airfares in the latest quarter (12,239). The next three most popular routes were Kalgoorlie (7,841), Broome (6,653) and Port Hedland (6,499).

That pattern continues for the overall number of fares flown through the scheme. Around a quarter (50,317) of the capped airfares were flown on the Karratha-Perth route, followed by Kalgoorlie (28,445), Port Hedland (26,589), and Broome (23,380).

The Cook Government has committed to running the scheme over three years to June 2025.

For more information on the scheme, visit www.farego.wa.gov.au.

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Reaching the milestone of 200,000 capped airfares shows just how important this scheme is for regional residents and their families – helping ease the cost of living pressures so many people are facing right now.

"Our Government knows how cost-prohibitive flying can be for regional residents but this scheme is giving people peace of mind that if they need to fly to Perth at short notice, they won't be up for thousands of dollars.

"Since the introduction of the scheme we've heard so many positive stories about families being better connected – including grandparents flying to see new grandchildren and people being able to travel to see sick relatives.

"With a State as vast as ours, air travel is a necessary form of transport for many regional residents and is often the only way they can get to Perth for specialist medical appointments and important family occasions.

"The strong support for these airfares is helping to drive record demand on a number of regional routes, which helps us attract and retain reliable and affordable air services."