Latest news with #Saffioti
West Australian
16-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Emirates suspends second daily flight between Dubai and Perth following operational review
Emirates will discontinue one of its daily non-stop flights between Perth and Dubai. The airline's second direct service between the two cities — which only recommenced in December 2024 and departs Perth around 6am every day — will be suspended from October 26, 2025. An Emirates spokesperson confirmed the decision came after an operational review. 'As part of our adjustment to the winter 2025 schedule, our second daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK424/425) will be suspended from 26 October 2025,' the spokesperson told PerthNow. 'The decision follows a periodic operational review to optimise aircraft fleet utilisation and support our broader operations across Australia.' 'Emirates is committed to serving our customers, and those impacted will be rebooked on our other daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK420/421), which will continue to operate as scheduled with an Airbus A380.' At the weekend, customers who were booked on the early morning service beyond October 26 started receiving emails that their original flights had been cancelled and rebooked. It's understood the suspension means there will be almost 2000 less seats per week, and airfares are expected to increase as a result. The second daily flight recommenced on December 1 after being axed in 2019. At the time of recommencement, Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said the second direct flight was set to stimulate economic growth. 'This is another huge win for Western Australia and a massive vote of confidence in our status as a growing aviation hub and premier tourism destination.,' Ms Saffioti said. 'Increased connectivity with Dubai strengthens our ties to key markets across Europe, the UK, and the US, attracting up to 129,000 more visitors each year and stimulating economic growth across the State. 'More flights from these key markets across the globe not only enhance connectivity, they also broaden our appeal as a location for investment.'
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Emirates axes daily flight from Perth to popular location
Emirates will discontinue one of its daily non-stop flights between Perth and Dubai. The airline's second direct service between the two cities — which only recommenced in December 2024 and departs Perth around 6am every day — will be suspended from October 26, 2025. An Emirates spokesperson confirmed the decision came after an operational review. 'As part of our adjustment to the winter 2025 schedule, our second daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK424/425) will be suspended from 26 October 2025,' the spokesperson told PerthNow. 'The decision follows a periodic operational review to optimise aircraft fleet utilisation and support our broader operations across Australia.' 'Emirates is committed to serving our customers, and those impacted will be rebooked on our other daily flight between Dubai and Perth (EK420/421), which will continue to operate as scheduled with an Airbus A380.' At the weekend, customers who were booked on the early morning service beyond October 26 started receiving emails that their original flights had been cancelled and rebooked. It's understood the suspension means there will be almost 2000 less seats per week, and airfares are expected to increase as a result. The second daily flight recommenced on December 1 after being axed in 2019. At the time of recommencement, Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said the second direct flight was set to stimulate economic growth. 'This is another huge win for Western Australia and a massive vote of confidence in our status as a growing aviation hub and premier tourism destination.,' Ms Saffioti said. 'Increased connectivity with Dubai strengthens our ties to key markets across Europe, the UK, and the US, attracting up to 129,000 more visitors each year and stimulating economic growth across the State. 'More flights from these key markets across the globe not only enhance connectivity, they also broaden our appeal as a location for investment.'
West Australian
06-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti says WA ‘stands ready' to host State of Origin spectacle
Rita Saffioti has remained tight-lipped on the details of a proposal put forward by the AFL for a State of Origin match between WA and Victoria next year but says the State 'stands ready' to host the game. As revealed by The Sunday Times, the State Government is understood to have received a detailed proposal from the AFL last month for a game to be played at Optus Stadium in February. Asked on Sunday about the plan, Ms Saffioti, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, said there had been 'a lot of ongoing discussions' but would not 'go into detail about what's been proposed'. 'But there has been a proposal put forward and we are having a look at it,' she said. 'But as I said, it's really going to be depending, it's an informal proposal, on the AFL clubs and the AFL ultimately agreeing to it.' Ms Saffioti said the State Government was working ' really hard' to make sure WA is the host State. She again pointed to the success of the Indigenous All-Stars v Dockers exhibition clash in February as proof there would be interest in reviving State of Origin. 'We are really excited by the prospect and we've engaged very actively and proactively on this,' she said. 'As I said, ultimately it's a decision for the AFL and the clubs but WA has put its hand up saying that if there's a State of Origin, we want it in WA. 'We believe it would be an incredible game and many, many West Australians remember going and watching some of those incredible State of Origin clashes at Subi (Subiaco) and the WACA and the time. 'So we think bringing back the State of Origin and having it in WA would be a great thing. I think Western Australia, we have the venue, and we have the spectators that are very keen to turn up. 'We've demonstrated that West Australians love these events, love these iconic games, and we stand very ready to be hosting a State of Origin in football.' Ms Saffioti would not be drawn when asked if it would form part of WA's pitch to 'pinch' the Gather Round off South Australia, saying 'that's, I suppose, a discussion for another day'. The first State of Origin match was in 1977 between Victoria and WA, with the Victorians winning a first game by 63 points. Later that same year the boys from the west got their revenge with a 94-point win. The WA versus Victoria games were legendary, with the late Ted Whitten's 'Stuck it right up em, that's what you did. You stuck it right up em' whenever Victoria beat WA becoming part of footy folklore. With the WA Government and AFL backing a return of the match, the last remaining hurdle appears to be convincing current coaches and sides, as well as the AFL Players Association, to agree on the Perth match. The sticking point has mainly been around timing. At a Captains Day at the MCG earlier this year, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield said players were in favour of State of Origin but the timing of the match was crucial. Already, it has been speculated that Carlton's Patrick Cripps would most likely captain a WA State of Origin side, with Max Gawn, Patrick Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli all in the mix to lead Victoria's side. One of the exciting prospects could be the sight of West Coast's Harley Reid potentially playing in a Victorian jumper matched up against WA's Chad Warner, from the Sydney Swans. 'We understand, and not directly but indirectly, that many of the players are really keen to be playing for WA, in particular those players who have moved over east and are playing for Victorian and other state-based clubs,' Ms Saffioti said. 'They are keen to be able to pull on the yellow and black jersey, the Western Australian jumper, because of their experience of growing up watching incredible State of Origin games.'
West Australian
05-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
State of Origin: Rita Saffioti bids to hold match in Perth next year
Western Australia is kicking goals in its bid to hold an Aussie rules State of Origin match in Perth next year. The Sunday Times understands the State Government has received a detailed proposal from the AFL for a game to be played at Optus Stadium in February. It's understood the proposal was finalised and put to the Government after Sport and Recreation Minister and Treasurer Rita Saffioti met with AFL boss Andrew Dillon in Perth last month. A WA v Victoria State of Origin is being mooted, in what would be a return of one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport. It's understood the discussions centre around how much the WA Government will contribute financially to the event, stadium fees, how many days Victorian AFL players would spend in Perth and how the city would be promoted for the match. On Saturday, Ms Saffioti refused to give details of negotiations, but made it clear she wants to bring the game back to WA. She pointed to the success of the Indigenous All-Stars v Dockers exhibition clash in February as proof there would be incredible interest in reviving State of Origin. 'Western Australians absolutely love their AFL and we saw only weeks ago the incredible success of the NRL State of Origin game which drew more than 55,000 to Optus Stadium,' Ms Saffioti told The Sunday Times. 'We also saw the incredible success of the Indigenous All Stars Game earlier this year, and I don't think there would be any better place than Western Australia and Optus Stadium to host a return of State of Origin football.' The first State of Origin match was in 1977 between Victoria and WA, with the Vics winning a first game by 63 points. Later that same year the boys from the west got their revenge with a 94-point win. The WA versus Victoria games were legendary, with the late Ted Whitten's 'Stuck it right up em, that's what you did. You stuck it right up em' whenever Victoria beat WA becoming part of footy folklore. With the WA Government and AFL backing a return of the match, the last remaining hurdle appears to be convincing current coaches and sides, as well as the AFL Players Association, to agree on the Perth match. With teams already paying mega bucks to stars, the clubs are also concerned about players sustaining serious injuries during the regular season. 'I've previously spoken directly with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and expressed our interest in hosting a State of Origin match,' Ms Saffioti said. 'Those conversations were really positive, but ultimately a decision on whether there is a return of State of Origin football is one for the AFL.' Already, it has been speculated that Carlton's Patrick Cripps would most likely captain a WA State of Origin side, with Max Gawn, Patrick Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli all in the mix to lead the Vics. The sight of West Coast's Harley Reid potentially playing in a Victorian jumper matched up against WA's Chad Warner, from the Sydney Swans, would in itself be worth the admission fee. At a Captains Day at the MCG earlier this year, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield said players were in favour of State of Origin but the timing of the match was crucial.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Perth's Causeway bridge may need to be ‘thinned' for Metronet on Swan to head east
The Cook government's vision to expand its 'Metronet on the Swan' to Burswood and beyond is at risk of being thwarted by the nearly 80-year-old Causeway bridges. The government has budgeted $107 million to build five electric ferries and two new ferry stops on the Swan River at Applecross and near UWA in what will be the first expansion in the service's history beyond the Elizabeth Quay to South Perth route. However, there is a vision to expand the ferry service even further along the Swan River, including to the east to Burswood and Belmont, but Transport Rita Saffioti revealed at an estimates hearing on Tuesday the Causeway bridge was too low to allow the current design of ferries through at high tide. 'There are issues with the height of the bridge, they are not insurmountable and would not impact all ferry services, but there are issues with the height of the Causeway,' Saffioti said. 'They are the things we are currently investigating as part of our plan to potentially go to a second stage. Loading 'It is a matter of centimetres. Our ferries could go under the Causeway 95 per cent of the time, but they would not be able to go under 5 per cent or 10 per cent of the time because of the tides. In response to questioning from Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, Saffioti revealed some of the spans on the Causeway bridges may need to be 'thinned' to allow the ferries to pass under safely. 'As I said, the technology on what can be done to the span of a bridge to facilitate a ferry has changed dramatically. We are working on that. I am particularly excited about that,' she said.
