Do all states/territories have such subsidy programs?
Ministerial media release today:
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/med...-2024-20240430
"The Western Australian Government's Affordable Airfares Program is back for its sixth consecutive year to make travelling within Western Australia more affordable.As part of this year's initiative, funding has been allocated to Virgin Australia and Qantas to provide discounted airfares on services between Perth and Broome, Kununurra and Exmouth.
For the first time in the program's history, funding has also been allocated to Airnorth and Nexus Airlines, with both airlines set to provide discounted airfares on services between Broome and Kununurra.
The program will offer:
- Virgin Australia discounted airfares for $219 one-way between Perth and Broome and $259 one-way between Perth and Kununurra;
- Qantas discounted airfares for $199 and $209, dependent on date of travel, between Perth and Exmouth; and
- Airnorth and Nexus Airlines discounted airfares for $199 one-way between Broome and Kununurra.
It follows huge uptake in previous years, with nearly 29,000 tickets purchased in 2023 for services from Perth into Broome, Kununurra and Exmouth, potentially saving travellers hundreds of dollars.
The Affordable Airfares Program aims to improve the affordability of regional airfares throughout Western Australia and drive visitors to key tourism hubs that heavily depend on air access.
This program is in addition to the Cook Labor Government's groundbreaking Regional Airfare Zone Cap (RAZC) which supports regional residents with cost-of-living pressures by capping the total airfare amount they pay for flights to and from Perth to either $199 or $299 one-way, when booked as a return fare for personal travel.
Over 200,000 capped airfares have flown since that scheme's inception, helping to better connect regional residents to family and their community.
For more information about specified travel dates and bookings under the Affordable Airfares Program, please visit
www.tourism.wa.gov.au/AffordableAirfaresProgram"