Log in or Register

Air services in Western Australia

A small aircraft on the runway with the sun setting behind it

Air Services overview and maps

Aviation in WA is essential to the economy and social and health needs of regional communities. Sustainable, affordable, safe and reliable air services. Air services are often the most efficient mode of transport for WA's dispersed communities and are also critical for mining and business operations across the State as well as bringing visitors to the regions, growing tourism markets.

The State Government considers various levels of regulation on air routes while taking into account the unique circumstances of each route, particularly the needs of community and industry. In fulfilling its role as a regulator, the State scales its response between the following regulatory options for Regular Public Transport (RPT) routes:

  • Fully regulated routes are those routes where demand for RPT air services is marginal and there is a significant risk in communities not having access to an adequate level of RPT services. Fully regulated routes are established by awarding exclusive monopoly rights to one airline through a competitive tender process.
  • Lightly regulated routes are those routes that receive an adequate level of RPT air services in a monopoly or duopoly airline market, but where there is community concern about the affordability and reliability of air services. These routes are lightly regulated by conditions placed on the aircraft licences, such as community engagement and provision of data.

Engaging regional WA

The Department of Transport (DoT) facilitates various regular consultation activities to be better informed and engaged with stakeholders and communities related to Regular Public Transport (RPT) air services for regional Western Australia.

Consultation on fully regulated air routes

The fully regulated RPT air routes to Albany, Esperance, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia, Laverton, Leonora, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra and Wiluna are operated under Deeds of Agreement between the airline and the State Government. Under the Deeds DoT chairs two Aviation Community Consultation Group (CCG) meetings per year for each route. During the CCGs key stakeholders meet with DoT and the operating airline to discuss airline and route performance, initiatives and partnership opportunities.

In addition, DoT chairs Stakeholder Meetings for the Derby - Broome air service and the Inter Regional Flight Network (IRFN) between Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha and Geraldton.

These discussions are vital in ensuring the air route's long-term viability and to foster potential route growth. DoT engages with the airlines regularly in relation to any issues that may occur on the air routes.

Consultation on lightly regulated air routes

Airlines operating RPT services on lightly regulated routes in WA have a condition on their aircraft licence, requiring them to regularly engage with the regional communities they service, as well as providing data to the State Government.

DoT facilitates Regional Aviation Consultation Group (RACG) meetings in 10 regional towns associated with the lightly regulated routes including, Broome, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Kununurra, Newman, Onslow, Paraburdoo/Tom Price and Port Hedland.

The RACG meetings are held annually to provide a forum for ongoing and direct collaboration between the State, airlines, local governments, private airport operators, tourism bodies, the resources sector, and other key stakeholders. The RACG meetings aim to identify opportunities for improving access to affordable airfares, air service recovery and route development opportunities.

Regional WA airfares and air travel survey

Throughout March and April 2024, more than 41,000 regional residents were invited to have their say on airfares and air services within Western Australia as part of a survey to inform future Department of Transport regional aviation initiatives.

A letter was posted to households in towns with flights to and from Perth, inviting them to take part in the survey. Metropolitan and regional travellers were also surveyed online and in-person at Perth Airport.

The research was conducted by Painted Dog Research on behalf of the Department of Transport.

Intrastate air services

The State Government encourages and supports the development of direct air services between regional WA towns, Perth, other Australian capital cities and international destinations, particularly where there are opportunities to stimulate inbound interstate and international tourism.

The State Government's policy objectives for intrastate Regular Public Transport (RPT) air routes in WA are to:

  • ensure an adequate level of RPT air services on regional routes in WA;
  • enable the availability of affordable airfares on regional air routes in WA;
  • enable adequate frequency of air services;
  • improve the liveability of regional towns;
  • foster economic, social and tourism development throughout WA; and
  • support the wider State economy, particularly the resources and tourism sectors.

Fully regulated RPT air routes

Air routes in WA which have insufficient passenger demand to support airline competition are regulated by the State Government. Through competitive tender the successful airline is granted monopoly rights to operate on a particular Regular Public Transport (RPT) route. Currently, the following RPT air routes in WA are fully regulated.

List of fully regulated air routes
Fully regulated air routes Airline

Albany - Perth and vice versa

Rex

Broome - Fitzroy Crossing - Halls Creek (or in similar configuration) and vice versa - subsidised by the State Government

Aviair

Broome - Port Hedland - Karratha - Geraldton (or in similar configuration) and vice versa (IRFN) - subsidised by the State Government

Nexus Airlines

Derby - Broome and vice versa - subsidised by the State Government

Aviair

Esperance - Perth and vice versa

Rex

Kununurra - Halls Creek - Balgo (or in similar configuration) and vice versa

Aviair

Perth - Laverton – Leonora (or in similar configuration) and vice versa

Skippers Aviation

Perth - Monkey Mia - Carnarvon (or in similar configuration) and vice versa

Rex

Perth - Wiluna - Meekatharra - Mt Magnet (or in similar configuration) and vice versa

Skippers Aviation

  • Aviair operates the Kununurra - Halls Creek - Balgo subsidised air services until 30 June 2026. Aviair also operates a subsidised services on the Derby - Broome route under a Deed of Agreement until 28 June 2026.
  • Rex operates the Albany, Esperance, and Carnarvon - Monkey Mia air routes under Deeds of Agreement with the State Government until 2 July 2028.
  • Skippers Aviation operates on the Wiluna - Meekatharra - Mount Magnet and Laverton - Leonora air routes under a Deed of Agreement with the State Government until 2 July 2028. The routes are collectively known as the Northern Goldfields routes.

Under the agreements, the airlines are required to report monthly statistics such as passenger numbers, load factors, airfares, On Time Performance (OTP) and service cancellations. DoT regularly monitors performance on these routes.

Lightly regulated RPT air routes

Under aircraft conditions, airlines operating Regular Public Transport (RPT) air services on the lightly regulated routes are required to:

  • report route data to DoT; and
  • engage with regional stakeholders and communities on a route-by-route basis.

DoT actively monitors the performance on the lightly regulated routes. Entry into the market by other airlines on the lightly regulated routes is not restricted.

The following RPT routes are lightly regulated by the State Government:

List of lightly regulated air routes
Lightly regulated air routes Airline

Broome - Kununurra and vice versa

Airnorth and Nexus Airlines

Kununurrua - Kalumburu and vice versa

Aviair

Perth - Broome and vice versa

Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia

Perth - Exmouth (Learmonth) and vice versa

Qantas Airways

Perth - Geraldton and vice versa

Nexus Airlines and Qantas Airways

Perth - Kalgoorlie and vice versa

Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines and Nexus Airlines

Perth - Karratha and vice versa

Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia

Perth - Kununurra and vice versa

Virgin Australia and Airnorth

Perth - Newman and vice versa

Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia

Perth - Onslow and vice versa

Virgin Australia

Perth - Paraburdoo and vice versa

Qantas Airways

Perth - Port Hedland and vice versa

Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia

Unmanned aircraft (drones)

If you have any enquiries about drones please contact CASA or visit their website below regarding Part 101 CASR - Unmanned aircraft and rockets.