Response to regional airfares inquiry continues to progress

• Community and stakeholder feedback will help inform the review of the State Aviation Strategy
• State Government is focused on improving the availability of affordable airfares in regional WA 

The State Government's implementation of the actions arising from the regional airfares inquiry is continuing throughout 2019.

The main focus of the State Government in this review is on the price of airfares on unregulated air routes in Western Australia, which will be explored and assessed as part of the review of the State Aviation Strategy.

Through March/April, Department of Transport representatives will visit the towns of the nine unregulated air routes (Broome, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Newman, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland and Onslow) to meet with specific stakeholders and offer community information drop-in opportunities.

Further to the community and stakeholder consultation, the Department of Transport has commenced the collection of more detailed data on unregulated air routes, and independent surveys will also be conducted on each Regular Public Transport air route to collect data and information to better understand the challenges and assess the prevailing market dynamics associated with regional airfares.

The collection of feedback and data will help inform the content and recommendations in the draft State Aviation Strategy that will be released for public comment in late 2019.

More affordable airfares into regional Western Australian towns have already started occurring through collaboration between airlines, airports, mining companies, State and local governments. This collaboration will be central to achieving more affordable airfares on more air routes into the future. Ongoing stakeholder engagement is central to this collaborative approach.

For updates on the review of the State Aviation Strategy and the community drop-ins, visit https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/airfares

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Feedback and information collected from community members, airlines, local governments, airport owners and industry will build on the previous engagement and excellent work from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Regional Airfares.

"A revised draft State Aviation Strategy will be released for public comment in late 2019, which will incorporate key findings from the research, data collected and stakeholder and community engagement.

"The State Government continues to work collaboratively with airlines, airports, mining companies and local governments to pursue innovative opportunities to help find ways to reduce airfares on regional air routes, in addition to reviewing the State Aviation Strategy.

"As a result of this collaboration and innovation, community fares are now offered on all regulated routes in WA including Albany, Esperance, Monkey Mia and Carnarvon air routes."

Minister's office - 6552 5500