'noms' the trouble with Australia regarding traveling via small planes from regional centers to major captitol cities is population, we simply don't have enough people to support such an adventure. You would need 10 times the amount say a Mill+ to even think that about operating an RPT business, heavens know plenty have tried over the years.
Ballarat to the Gold Coast, there's noway any small RPT operator could make any money out of that route for Eg with the Airlines selling tickets from ML at times less then the cab fare to the airport.Can you imagine just the amount of luggage a family would be totting along for a 10 day stay in the Goldy coast trying to board a M23 for that trip not to mention the cost of the tickets, ain't gunna happen.
We live in a great country (well hopefully from now on seeing as the people voted Krudd out last nite!!!!) but it's a huge place criss-crossed with pretty good roads compared to other vast open area countries & per sq mile this joint is M/T, no one lives here!
The Airlines don't exactly have cash falling out of their pockets & they operate pretty lean these days from centers where there are millions.
As I have said b4 Aussie have a love affair with their cars & will drive a zillion miles to save a few bucks, Aeroplanes just don't figure into their way of thinking other than for an Airline trip to some beach resort with the kids for peanuts!:-)
Wmk2