Regional WA residents fear a possible airfare price hike next year

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Some WA regional residents fear they could be facing a hike in airfares from the middle of next year after trying to book flights in advance. While the government says it is committed to continuing its capped regional airfares scheme, it won't confirm if flight prices will increase.

Transcript

00:00A flight from Northwest WA to Perth can cost thousands.

00:07The remote mining town of Karratha, already one of the country's most expensive places to live,

00:13some locals can ill afford a potential airfare increase.

00:18Trying to factor in cost of living, house insurance, car insurance, private health.

00:26Since 2022, fares have been capped to provide some relief to regional residents travelling to Perth.

00:33Capped fares range from $199 to $299 one way.

00:39But the costs of future flights remain uncertain.

00:42The Government has committed to renewing the scheme beyond June 30th next year,

00:47but residents planning ahead say the current rate isn't available.

00:51When I went on to search, the 30th of June showed flights at $299.

00:58And then when I checked to the 1st of July, I want to travel in July,

01:02they've bumped up to $510 one way.

01:06The only transport alternative, a 16 hour drive.

01:09The ABC has repeatedly asked Transport Minister Rita Safiotti if regional residents could expect airfares to go up.

01:17But she did not answer questions about costs into the future.

01:21While advocates for the scheme admit a small increase is reasonable.

01:26The best outcome would be to have no increase at all.

01:28But I think it's quite acceptable to have an increase that's in line with inflation.

01:32The WA government says it will give more information on the capped airfare schemes extension before the end of the year.

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