Regional airfare zone cap marks two-year milestone as Nexus Airlines crowned at Australian Aviation Awards

The State Government’s regional airfare zone cap has marked its two-year milestone as one of the airlines servicing the Mid West region has been acknowledged at national awards.

More than 360,000 airfares across regional WA have been capped at either $199 or $299 per flight depending on location, for residents using the fare for personal travel.

In Geraldton, 14,805 fares have been capped over the past two years to June, which was the most in the Mid West and Gascoyne area.

It was followed closely by Carnarvon and Exmouth, which had 14,447 and 13,360 capped flights respectively over the same time period.

Karratha in the Pilbara region had the most fares capped since the program’s inception, with 89,882 flights.

It was close to double the second-highest region, Port Hedland (47,342), and third-placed Kalgoorlie (47,153).

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said there had been positive feedback about the program.

“For two years running, reduced price airfares through the regional airfare zone cap scheme have been making it more affordable for regional people to stay connected to friends and family and attend important specialist appointments,” she said.

“We know that for regional residents who live significant distances from Perth, flying isn’t a luxury — it’s essential public transport that supports the economic and social health of their hometowns.

“They’re telling us that since the RAZC scheme was introduced, it has made a massive difference to the cost of flights to Perth and their household budgets.”

Nexus Airlines, which delivers the capped fares in Geraldton, was recognised as domestic airline of the year at the Australian Aviation Awards last week.

The airline has been in operation for more than a year, with a base in Geraldton and Broome and flying to areas across the State and into the Northern Territory.

Managing director Michael McConachy said he was proud to be involved as part of the airline’s success.

“This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, who have worked tirelessly to make our vision a reality,” he said.

“Launching Nexus Airlines during such a challenging time for the aviation industry was no small feat, but our commitment to connecting regional WA and beyond has kept us focused and driven.

“We are passionate about ensuring that towns and cities across WA are connected, making it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to travel and thrive.”