Skippers lose out on air service tender

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Media Release - 10 August 2005

Skippers Welcome Ministerial Announcement
on New Air Service Operators for Regional WA

Skippers welcomed the announcement today from Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, The Hon. Alannah MacTiernen, of the results of a recent tender process which will see a change in air service operators servicing destinations across regional Western Australia.

The process was initiated on 20 April this year when the Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) invited all qualified air service operators to bid for either or both of two newly structured regional air service networks:

a coastal network, comprising the regional ports of Albany, Esperance, Exmouth (Learmonth) Geraldton, Carnarvon, Kalbarri and Shark Bay; and

a northern Goldfields network, comprising the ports of Leonora, Leinster, Laverton, Wiluna, Meekatharra and Mt. Magnet with limited access to Geraldton.
Skippers applied for and were successful in their bid for the Northern Goldfields network.

Skippers welcomed the opportunity to continue its current services to Geraldton, Meekatharra, Wiluna and Laverton under revised schedule arrangements and initiate new services to Mt Magnet, Leonora and Leinster. It is the aim of all operators to achieve a seamless transfer of services in line with each region's requirements by the end of 2005.

Whilst delighted at the outcome, Skippers CEO Rob Swann had mixed feelings toward the news. “We're disappointed that the process did not make it possible for us to be able to continue to service those destinations such as Kalbarri and Monkey Mia which we have spent a lot of energy and resources developing. Both of these communities are significantly underrated as tourist destinations and have natural assets that equal and even exceed other iconic destinations within the country. We can only hope that the new operator is successful in unlocking the full potential that these locations inherently possess.”

“We are, however, looking forward to having a more focused strategy which is more aligned with our core business – servicing the mining industry and adding value to the communities and businesses which support it.”

Air services in Western Australia have been heavily regulated since the collapse of Ansett in 2001. Skippers stepped forward to take on many of the routes which would otherwise have remained unserviced, and has successfully built services to a number of destinations previously deemed unviable. Skippers have increased air traffic to the city of Geraldton some 46% since January 2002, and Meekatharra has grown from 9 seats twice a week to its current capacity of between 19 and 30 seats, four days a week.

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For further information, please contact:
Rob Swann on Ph: [phone]