Air services
Western Australia is by far the largest State in Australia. Its capital city is in the south west of the State and the major regional centres are separated from it and each other by vast distances. The Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne regions, in the north of the State, are affected by tropical weather patterns that cause periodic flooding and isolation of some communities for many weeks each year.
The geographical isolation and extreme environmental conditions faced by many Western Australian communities has meant that these communities rely heavily on air transport. Regional towns often depend on access to large regional centres and to Perth for the provision of essential services such as health and education.
Our aim is to develop and maintain safe, efficient, effective and reliable networks of international, interstate and intrastate air services that meet the business, tourism, social and economic needs of passengers and the community.
Intrastate air services
The Department of Transport facilitates the provision of regular public transport (RPT) air services within Western Australia. The Minister for Transport has powers under the Transport Coordination Act 1966 to licence aircraft and place conditions on licences to control where and when airlines may fly within the State. The powers do not apply to interstate or international air services.
The following companies, listed in alphabetical order, provide regular public transport air services within Western Australia:
| Air North |
Services Perth, Broome and Kununurra |
|
Golden Eagle Airlines |
Services Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek |
| National Jet Systems |
Services Perth, Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Ravensthorpe |
| Ozjet |
Services Perth and Derby |
| Qantaslink |
Services Perth, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland |
|
Skippers Aviation |
Services Perth, Laverton, Leinster, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet and Wiluna |
|
Skywest |
Services Perth, Albany, Broome, Carnarvon, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra, Monkey Mia and Port Hedland |
| Virgin Blue |
Services Perth, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Newman and Port Hedland. |
The current system of intrastate regular passenger transport (RPT) air services consists of a combination of:
- Deregulated air services; and
- Regulated air services.
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Deregulated air services
Competition is permitted on deregulated routes. There are seven deregulated RPT routes in Western Australia that connect Perth with Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Paraburdoo, Port Hedland and Newman. Competition is therefore permitted on these routes. The Perth to Ravensthorpe route is also deregulated, but since the closure of an adjacent mine, the service no longer operates.
Regulated air services
Competition is not permitted on regulated routes. Regulated routes are approved by the Minister for Transport and consist of routes where there are insufficient passengers to support more than one airline. There are three types of regulated air service operating in Western Australia:
- Networks where services to a number of airports are limited to one airline without any Government subsidy;
- Protected route where one airline provides a service to and from one airport without any Government subsidy; and
- Subsidised air service where one airline provides a service that is subsidised by the Government.
Networks: There are two Network arrangements in Western Australia. The licences to operate the Networks were awarded following a competitive tender process. Services commenced on 1 January 2006 and are approved to operate until 30 June 2010. Under the Transport Coordination Regulations 1985, the airlines are required to provide comprehensive statistics to the Department each month so that service levels may be monitored.
- Skippers Aviation operates the Northern Goldfields Network, which includes Laverton, Leinster, Leonora, Meekatharra, Mt Magnet and Wiluna.
- Skywest Airlines operates the Coastal Network, which includes Albany, Carnarvon, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Learmonth (Exmouth) and Monkey Mia (Shark Bay).
Protected route: There is one protected route between Perth and Derby (Curtin).
- Ozjet Airlines, that is part of the Strategic Airlines Group, holds the licence to operate this service until 30 June 2010.
Subsidised air service: The Kimberley subsidised air service operates between Broome, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek.
- Golden Eagle Airlines was awarded the licence to operate this service through a competitive tender process. The service is subsidised by the WA Government under a shortfall subsidy arrangement until 30 June 2010.
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Interstate air services
Interstate air services are deregulated but are subject to the competition rules that apply to other industry sectors.
The four major interstate carriers are Qantas, Jetstar (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qantas), Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways. Together, these airlines fly to over 30 Australian cities.
In addition, Air North and Skywest connect Perth and Kununurra to Darwin.
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International air services
Australia has many international air service agreements with other countries regarding movements on international routes. These are called "international bilateral air service agreements".
The Department, in conjunction with, Tourism Western Australia, other State Government agencies and airport owners liaises closely with the Commonwealth Government regarding international flights to and from Western Australian airports, particularly Perth International Airport.
The State Government objective in dealing with the Commonwealth is to secure increased capacity, improved frequency and diversification of international flights and thereby increase tourism and business development between Western Australia and other countries.
International bilateral air service agreements are under continuous review. The State's role is to maintain the existing level of services and to provide opportunities that will benefit Western Australia. |
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