The State Government regulates regular public transport (RPT) air routes in Western Australia to ensure regional communities have access to safe and efficient air services.
There are 2 types of RPT air routes in WA: fully regulated and lightly regulated.
DoT conducts community consultation meetings in towns serviced by fully and lightly regulated RPT air services to discuss opportunities for improved performance, route development and partnership opportunities.
Fully regulated routes
RPT air routes are fully regulated when:
- demand for RPT air services is marginal, and
- there is a significant risk in communities not having access to an adequate level of RPT air services.
Fully regulated air routes are established by awarding exclusive monopoly rights to one airline through a competitive tender process. Some routes are subsidised by the State Government to ensure air services remain available to the community.
Fully regulated air routes operate under a Deed of Agreement with the State Government for a set period of time and the maximum price of the one-way airfare is capped, inclusive of all taxes, fees and charges.
Airlines on these routes are required to participate in stakeholder engagement and report monthly statistics such as passenger numbers, load factors, airfares, on time performance and service cancellations.
On time performance of flights is monitored by the Department and is measured against industry benchmarks.
When a flight departs or arrives within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, it is considered to be on time. Controllable delays are those issues that cause a delay that is within the airline’s control to rectify.
Discounted fares
Rex offers a discounted community airfare on its WA RPT air routes, which is available for all passengers booking a flight more than 30 days in advance (subject to availability); or within 24 hours of flight departure.
Skippers offers a discounted standby airfare on its RPT air routes, which is available only from 13 hours prior to flight departure time, subject to seat availability.
WA fully regulated air routes
Albany air service
The Albany-Perth-Albany air route is operated by Rex to 2 July 2028. Albany receives a minimum of 24 weekly return services.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Rex website.
Broome-Fitzroy Crossing-Halls Creek Air service
The Broome-Fitzroy Crossing-Halls Creek air service is operated by Aviair under agreement with the Department of Health. Each location on the air route receives a minimum of 3 return weekly services.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Aviair website.
Carnarvon and Monkey Mia Air Services
Services on the Perth-Monkey Mia-Carnarvon-Perth and Perth-Carnarvon-Perth air routes are operated by Rex to 2 July 2028. A minimum of 12 weekly return services operates between Perth and Carnarvon, 7 of which operate via Monkey Mia.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Rex website.
Derby-Broome Air Service
The Derby-Broome-Derby air route is operated by Aviair. The State Government has committed a total of $3,536,000 funding for the provision of RPT air services from August 2021 to 28 June 2026. The air service operates a minimum of 3 return weekly services.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Aviair website.
Esperance Air Service
The Esperance-Perth-Esperance air route is operated by Rex to 2 July 2028. Esperance receives a minimum of 22 weekly return services.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Rex website.
Inter-Regional Flight Network (IRFN)
The IRFN offers direct flights between Geraldton-Karratha-Port Hedland-Broome. Operated by Nexus Airlines, the State Government has committed $7.55 million to subsidise the IRFN air service to 27 June 2027. The IRFN air service operates a minimum of 3 return weekly services between each town.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Nexus website.
Kununurra-Halls Creek-Balgo
The Kununurra-Halls Creek-Balgo air service is operated by Aviair. The State Government has committed $2.45 million to subsidise the air service between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2026. Each town receives a minimum of 2 return flights per week and up to 3 return flights per week during the peak season (15 February - 30 November).
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Aviair website.
Laverton and Leonora Air Services
The Perth-Laverton-Leonora-Perth air route is operated by Skippers to 2 July 2028. Laverton and Leonora each receive 3 return flights per week.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Skippers website or call Skippers reservations on 1300 729 924.
Wiluna-Meekatharra-Mt Magnet Air Services
Services on the Perth-Wiluna-Meekatharra-Mt Magnet-Perth and Perth-Mt Magnet-Perth air routes are operated by Skippers to 2 July 2028. Wiluna and Meekatharra each receive 3 return flights per week, with Mt Magnet receiving 4 return flights per week.
Find more information on bookings and flight schedule on the Skippers website or call Skippers reservations on 1300 729 924.
Lightly regulated routes
Air routes are lightly regulated when there is an adequate level of RPT air services, but there is concern about service affordability and reliability. Entry into the market by other airlines on lightly regulated routes is unrestricted.
Airlines operating on lightly regulated routes are required to:
- report route data to DoT; and
- engage with regional stakeholders and communities.
DoT actively monitors airline performance on lightly regulated routes.
WA lightly regulated air routes
| Air route | Airline/s |
|---|---|
|
Broome-Kununurra and vice versa |
Airnorth and Nexus Airlines |
|
Kununurra-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 |
Alliance Airlines, Nexus Airlines, Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia |
|
Perth-Karratha and vice versa |
Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia |
|
Perth-Kununurra and vice versa |
Airnorth and Virgin Australia |
|
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 |