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Regional traffic surges at Perth Airport as locked-down travellers holiday at home

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Geoffrey ThomasThe West Australian
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The spike was mostly underpinned by the fly-in, fly-out mining sector but was also supported by West Australians flying to regional areas for a holiday.
Camera IconThe spike was mostly underpinned by the fly-in, fly-out mining sector but was also supported by West Australians flying to regional areas for a holiday. Credit: Credit: Geoffrey Thomas

Record numbers of passengers are flying to WA’s regional holiday hot spots and resource industry projects.

In the six months to the end of December, 2.55 million passengers flew around the State — an increase of 17 per cent over the same time a year earlier.

A spokesman for Perth Airport said the spike was mostly underpinned by the fly-in, fly-out mining sector but was also supported by more locked-down West Australians flying to regional areas for a holiday.

“WA’s resources sector helps drive the economic growth of Australia, creating jobs for tens of thousands of Australians and generating economic value and social and cultural benefits for our nation,” he said.

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Despite some big financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Perth Airport has kept its runways and terminals operating.

WA Qantaslink operator Network Aviation is expected to buy another six, 180-seat Airbus A320s to meet high demand from FIFO workers and regional travellers. Those aircraft will take the airline’s A320 fleet to 17 and it has 18 100-seat Fokker 100s.

While owner Qantas is tightlipped on the extra aircraft, industry sources say Network Aviation is looking at “various options”.

Late last year, Virgin Australia announced it would add two A320s to its fleet of five early this year, complementing its 11 Fokker 100s.

Brisbane-based Alliance Airlines has also moved more of its 35-strong Fokker 100s to Perth to cope with demand. The ailrine services FIFO destinations across Australia and also operates airline services for other airlines.

Perth Airport is home to 125 mostly jet aircraft that support FIFO charters as well as interstate and regional markets.

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