Western Australia state government has listed successful applicants in the Affordable Airfares Programme, with Nexus Airlines and Airnorth receiving funding for discounted fares between Broome and Kununurra, while Qantas and Virgin Australia also secured subsidies.
Nexus and Airnorth will offer AUD199 fares on the Broome-Kununurra route, each able to sell 2,440 discounted fares between May and August 2024. Qantas received funding to sell fares between AUD199 and AUD209 on the Perth-Learmonth route, running from May to December 2024.
Virgin Australia secured funding for AUD219 fares on the Perth-Broome route between May and November 2024, excluding the winter school holiday peak, and AUD259 fares on the Perth-Kununurra sector between May and October 2024, without blackout periods.
The Affordable Airfares Program aims to make regional airfares more affordable in Western Australia, driving visitors to key tourism hubs dependent on air access. The government’s initiative complements other cost-of-living measures, such as the Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme, benefitting over 200,000 discounted airfares flown since its inception.
The Western Australia government says that the Affordable Airfares Programme aims to improve the affordability of regional airfares throughout the state and drive visitors to key tourism hubs that heavily depend on air access. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said “this programme builds on existing cost-of-living measures we have implemented, such as the Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme, which supports regional residents flying to and from Perth by capping their total airfare amount. That scheme has been very well-subscribed, with over 200,000 discounted airfares now flown since its inception.”
