The Federal Government has finally kicked off its Productivity Commission inquiry into regional airfares, and let’s be honest – it’s long overdue. “Regional Australians deserve reliable air services at reasonable prices and that’s what this review is about,” the government said.
Jenny Flower
Regional Airfares Under the Microscope – And About Time Too
Government finally awakes to the crazy high costs of regional flights
Sounds great in theory, but the reality on the ground has been pretty rough lately.
The inquiry will dig into everything from competition and pricing practices to whether the profits being made along the supply chain are actually fair. The goal is to get a clearer picture of why it costs so much to fly regionally and what’s driving those eye-watering price tags.
Simon Westaway, CEO of the Australian Airports Association, called it “a timely opportunity to better understand the mechanics of regional air travel,” and he’s not wrong. The review will look at airport charges too, which airports say they’re willing to work on with both new and established airlines to improve connectivity for regional communities.
But here’s the thing – the regional aviation landscape has been pretty chaotic recently. We’ve seen Bonza collapse spectacularly (although to be fair that always seemed a weird operation) , Rex go into administration (though it looks like they’re making a comeback after being bought by US based Air T), and most recently, Nexus Airways has pulled out of Broome, Kununurra and Darwin routes, citing Air North’s competition as the reason. Meanwhile, the established carriers like Qantas are reporting uber healthy profits, which raises some uncomfortable questions about who’s really benefiting from the current set up.
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The numbers back up what regional travelers already know in their bones – the Aviation White Paper found that the average ticket price per kilometre is a whopping 52% higher for flights involving regional airports compared to flights between capital cities. That’s not a small difference; that’s a massive premium that regional Australians are being forced to pay just to stay connected. Or tourists have to pay just to access airports such as Broome and Kununurra.
The Productivity Commission will hold public hearings and take submissions from anyone who wants to have their say, with a final report expected in mid-2027. Let’s hope this inquiry delivers some real answers – and more importantly, some real change – for the people who need it most.
What to do next
If you’d like more information, either researching on your own or by talking to a person who has been to the Kimberley and can give you first hand advice, here are four options:
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About Jenny Flower
I’m an expert in small ship cruising in the Kimberley and have completed four cruises on different vessels along this spectacular coastline. Cruises in the Kimberley are not one size fits all. There are different ships and itineraries, each offering their own special elements.
If you would like to have a chat with me about Kimberley cruising at a time that suits you book in a call.
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