Latest news with #AviationRecoveryFund
West Australian
04-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Flights from Perth on sale for $199 as State Government intervenes to boost Kimberley tourism
Local flights are being discounted to support the Kimberley's tourism industry in the wake of Jetstar Asia's collapse. More than 4000 discounted airfares will be for sale, including $199 one-way flights from Perth to Broome via Virgin Australia, in a bid to encourage Perth families to make up the shortfall from international tourists who have been forced to cancel bookings. 'Broome is one of WA's most iconic and beloved destinations and these additional discounted flights will drive even more visitors to the Kimberley, providing a much needed tourism boost,' Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said. 'While it was disappointing that the Jetstar Asia Broome to Singapore flights were cancelled, we're reinforcing our commitment to enhancing our State's regional connections. 'I encourage anyone thinking of heading to Broome to make that booking a reality to enjoy the fantastic Kimberley region of our State.' The rescue package is being funded out of the $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund and is on top of 16,400 discounted airfares already funded out of the Budget's $3 million Affordable Airfares Program. Regional intrastate flights by Nexus Airlines will be discounted too, with $399 fares one-way from Geraldton, $299 from Karratha and $199 from Port Hedland. 'The Cook Government is proud to support the region's tourism industry,' Minister for the Kimberley Stephen Dawson said. 'Not only are these discounted airfares and experiences a win for visitors to the region but it's also a win for regional businesses and tour operators.' Broome's only international route was axed in June, when Qantas scrapped its Singapore-based Jetstar Asia offshoot to instead bring 13 Airbus A320 aircraft jets back to Australia, to use on more profitable domestic and trans-Tasman operations. Premier Roger Cook has vowed to try to restore the service but, so far, Qantas and Jetstar Australian management have baulked, claiming the Broome to Singapore flights were barely half-full.
Perth Now
04-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
FLIGHT FRENZY: Airfares for $199 part of epic WA sale
Local flights are being discounted to support the Kimberley's tourism industry in the wake of Jetstar Asia's collapse. More than 4000 discounted airfares will be for sale, including $199 one-way flights from Perth to Broome via Virgin Australia, in a bid to encourage Perth families to make up the shortfall from international tourists who have been forced to cancel bookings. 'Broome is one of WA's most iconic and beloved destinations and these additional discounted flights will drive even more visitors to the Kimberley, providing a much needed tourism boost,' Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said. 'While it was disappointing that the Jetstar Asia Broome to Singapore flights were cancelled, we're reinforcing our commitment to enhancing our State's regional connections. 'I encourage anyone thinking of heading to Broome to make that booking a reality to enjoy the fantastic Kimberley region of our State.' The rescue package is being funded out of the $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund and is on top of 16,400 discounted airfares already funded out of the Budget's $3 million Affordable Airfares Program. Regional intrastate flights by Nexus Airlines will be discounted too, with $399 fares one-way from Geraldton, $299 from Karratha and $199 from Port Hedland. 'The Cook Government is proud to support the region's tourism industry,' Minister for the Kimberley Stephen Dawson said. 'Not only are these discounted airfares and experiences a win for visitors to the region but it's also a win for regional businesses and tour operators.' Broome's only international route was axed in June, when Qantas scrapped its Singapore-based Jetstar Asia offshoot to instead bring 13 Airbus A320 aircraft jets back to Australia, to use on more profitable domestic and trans-Tasman operations. Premier Roger Cook has vowed to try to restore the service but, so far, Qantas and Jetstar Australian management have baulked, claiming the Broome to Singapore flights were barely half-full.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Broome blindsided as Jetstar Asia closure axes town's only international flight
Broome's first international flight route in years is set to vanish, with Jetstar Asia to cease operations and take the town's short-lived Singapore connection with it — a move Broome International Airport chief executive Craig Shaw said came without warning and could dent hopes of growing ties with Asia. Mr Shaw said Qantas' decision to shut down its Singapore-based budget carrier, which has operated seasonal flights between Broome and Singapore since June last year, had 'come out of the blue'. He described the move as 'disappointing' and a blow to the region's aspirations of boosting international tourism and business. 'It's been great to see the tourism trade in in Singapore starting to bring group bookings here to the region and it's such a shame to see it come to a shorter end than was anticipated,' he said. The seasonal-only service, which operated twice a week during dry season connecting Southeast Asia to the iconic tourist town, is set to end after its last flight on July 29. Given the airport wasn't anticipating the move, Mr Shaw said hopes for quickly securing an alternative carrier would have to be tempered. 'We weren't having any conversations with anybody else at this stage in terms of alternatives for this route,' he said. 'There are some potential options for that, but they're limited in terms of carriers that are based out of Singapore that would want to do a Singapore-Broome connection. 'We will no doubt be having conversations with airlines to see if there's an option for an alternative but the likelihood of that occurring this season is minimal. Beyond that, it will require some additional ongoing support from the State Government to make it a reality.' Announcing the closure, Qantas said the Jetstar Asia had faced growing challenges in recent years due to 'rising supplier costs, high airport fees, and intensified competition in the region'. According to Jetstar Asia, the Broome to Singapore route had also been significantly under performing with flights only at half capacity and was mostly servicing Broome locals flying to Singapore. Mr Shaw pushed back on the claim and said the service had steadily been growing in popularity and hadn't been given enough time to establish itself. 'It's disappointing that it didn't have more time to demonstrate its continued growth, particularly among the trade industry in Singapore and the wider international trade community,' he said. 'The fact that it only operated for two shortened seasons, in our view, didn't give it adequate time to prove its worth. 'For us it was building and the awareness of it was growing. It was operating in a crowded marketplace in Singapore, and so it takes time for the awareness of the destination to grow inside that market,' he said. The move won't affect the airport's bottom line, as the route was always subsidised by both the airport and the State Government, which backed it in 2024 through the $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund. 'We were putting significant funds behind the operation of the flights to help incentivise the airline to operate the route in the short term, until such time as it had the ability to become sustainable in its own right,' Mr Shaw said. 'That was always going to take some time. We're aware of that, as was the State Government when they supported it.' A Jetstar Asia spokesperson said it was a difficult decision for the company to make. 'We regret any impacts to the local tourism industry due to the flying season ending earlier than expected,' the spokesperson said. 'We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused, and all impacted customers have been offered full cash refunds so they can make alternative travel arrangements.' Broome locals lamented the oncoming closure of the flight route on social media, with one saying, 'Another good reason to leave Broome.' 'There goes my holiday plans,' wrote another. 'Sad that this has happened . . . I sort of felt one flight a week would be adequate, and it would hopefully survive,' added a third. Qantas will cop a $175 million blow to its bottom line due to the closure but said the strategic restructure will allow it to divert up to $500m in fleet capital into its more profitable core domestic and international services. The group did not reveal the number of jobs affected but said it was working to find workers other job opportunities across the group and with other airlines in the region. However, Qantas expects the restructure will create 100 jobs in Australia as the A320s replace leased aircraft in Jetstar Airways' domestic operation. Four of the 13 aircraft will also help fast-track fleet renewal in Qantas' regional operations that service fly-in, fly-out operations in WA's powerhouse resources sector. Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said she was 'incredibly proud' of the Jetstar Asia crew. 'Jetstar Asia has been a pioneering force in the Asian aviation market for more than 20 years, making air travel accessible to millions of customers across Southeast Asia,' she said. 'We are incredibly proud of the Jetstar Asia team and the work they have done to deliver low fares, strong operational performance and exceptional customer service. 'This is a very tough day for them. Despite their best efforts, we have seen some of Jetstar Asia's supplier costs increase by up to 200 per cent, which has materially changed its cost base.'
