Carnarvon and Monkey Mia to benefit from community airfares

• New flight schedules to commence with discounted community airfares
• State Government committed to facilitating cheaper regional airfares
• New approach to support tourism and regional community connectivity 

People travelling to Monkey Mia and Carnarvon will benefit from discounted airfares offered by Regional Express (Rex), from July 2, 2018.

The Perth-Monkey Mia-Carnarvon air route will be serviced by Rex after a five-year agreement to provide regulated air services was signed between the State Government and Rex earlier this year.

An innovative approach to reducing airfares on the route has resulted in Rex engaging with the owner of Shark Bay Airport (commonly referred to as Monkey Mia Airport), RAC; the Shire of Carnarvon, owner of Carnarvon Airport; and Perth Airport, to implement the Rex Community Fare scheme.

The State Government continues to work with airlines and stakeholders to find collaborative ways to reduce regional airfares. Implementing community fares is one way the State Government is responding to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Regional Airfares, to help reduce airfares on regional air routes.

The Rex Community Fare, which is still subject to final approval by the Shire of Carnarvon on June 26, will be $157 and $199 one way, including all taxes and fees for Monkey Mia and Carnarvon travellers respectively.

These fares will be available for 25 per cent of the seat availability for sales at least 60 days prior to departure. The community fare will also be applied to all remaining available seats within one day prior to departure.

Passengers will have access to 24 air services between Perth and Carnarvon and 12 air services between Perth and Monkey Mia weekly, operated in a 34-seat aircraft.

Rex flights are also connected to the Global Distribution System, which is used by most travel agents and online booking providers, making it easier for passengers to book and package flights and accommodation.

Widening of the Monkey Mia Airport runway was recently completed, allowing Rex aircraft to operate at the airport. The upgrades totalling more than $600,000, were jointly funded by the Department of Transport's Regional Airports Development Scheme and RAC, as the Monkey Mia airport owner.

Flight schedules and fares are available at http://www.rex.com.au

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"This is a fantastic example of collaboration between airlines, the State Government and airport owners to find ways to reduce airfares on regional air routes.

"These community airfares, along with increases to flight schedules will provide more opportunities for local residents to travel to Perth and for people to visit Monkey Mia, Carnarvon and the Gascoyne region.

"Rex's approach of putting all unsold seats on sale 24 hours prior to departure is the type of innovative approach we are looking for all airlines to undertake in regional aviation.

"This approach was first trialled on the Albany and Esperance air routes, and the community is responding positively to these discounted fares.

"Such initiatives need to be commercially successful and I am pleased to see that the community fare, which was first trialled in WA, is now being rolled out into other States of Australia."

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

"Making destinations such as Monkey Mia and Carnarvon more accessible through affordable airfares is great news for WA's tourism industry.

"Not only will it mean locals can travel to Perth for a lower fare but interstate and international visitors can explore everything the region has to offer for a reasonable rate, provided they meet the applicable conditions.

"Tourism WA has a Two-Year Action Plan, which is the State Government's blueprint for how we will reinvigorate the tourism industry around the State and grow the number of visitors to WA over the next two years.

"A central part of the plan is to increase regional visitation by improving regional aviation access and affordability and this innovative approach by Rex and the participating airports is helping us achieve that goal."

Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500

Tourism Minister's office - 6552 5600