LAST CHANCE TO SIGN PETITION CALLING FOR CHEAPER REGIONAL AIRFARES

Photo credit: Photos By Benetos - Qantas Airbus A380-800, VH-OQB

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

A petition calling for cheaper regional airfares in Western Australia closes today, with more than 10,000 signatures already collected.

Karratha resident Kim Simpson says while the State Government’s decision to extend the regional airfare cap for another five years is welcome, it does not go far enough.

Speaking to Ngaarda Media, Ms Simpson said capped fares remain unaffordable for many families in the Pilbara.

“We’re very happy that they’ve extended the cap — that’s great,” she said.
“But the prices are too expensive. They’ve increased them during peak times, and up here peak times appear to be all the time.”

Ms Simpson said the higher capped fare can add around $170 per return ticket.

“If you’ve got a family of five, that’s just more prohibitive than it already is,” she said.
“It’s cheaper to drive to Perth, but people don’t always have time for that — and it’s not always safe on the roads.”

She said she knew of several cases where families had cancelled or changed travel plans due to costs.

“I know a lady who was going to meet her girlfriend from Sydney in Exmouth,” Ms Simpson said.
“It ended up cheaper for that lady to fly from Sydney to Italy than it was for her to fly to Exmouth — so they cancelled the trip.”

She said another family had been quoted about $15,000 for return flights from Karratha to New South Wales for five people.

“It’s beyond ridiculous,” she said.

The petition is calling on the State Government to work with airlines and industry to bring fares down across regional Western Australia, particularly in mining regions where residents argue prices are inflated.

“It’s not just residents,” Ms Simpson said.
“It’s grandparents in Perth who want to visit and can’t afford it. It’s tourists who want to come north. No one wants to pay over $2,000 for a return flight.”

Ms Simpson is also encouraging residents to write directly to WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti to share how airfare costs are affecting them.

“The more we complain, the more they have to listen,” she said.
“They cannot ignore us.”

West Australian residents over 18 can sign the petition through the WA Parliament e-petitions website by searching “regional airfares petition” before it closes today.