F/O Bloggs
20th Apr 2005, 09:44
Media release out today-
Airlines are being invited to tender for the regulated intrastate air routes serving regional Western Australian communities.
Making the announcement, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the opening of the tender process met a commitment by the State Government to get the balance right between competition and stability in regional aviation.
Ms MacTiernan said many regional communities throughout Australia had lost their air services and the State Government was committed to ensuring regulation saw WA's major regional and remote communities retained air services.
"In 2002, the State Government regulated non-jet routes to stabilise air services to regional centres," she said.
"The strategy has worked and regional services in WA are now secure and well patronised.
"As a result, we have decided regulation will continue, and in order to comply with national competition policy requirements, we will be inviting applications for the licence rights to operate the regulated routes from today."
It was considered the best way to achieve sustainability and growth within the industry was to maximise the prospects for developing and maintaining sustainable airline networks.
On this basis, the Government will be tendering the regulated routes as two 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.
"Fundamental to this process is that an airline is able to operate the services in a sustainable and viable manner, while delivering the best level of service possible for regional communities, particularly where tourism development is a major component for local economies," the Minister said.
"It is considered that the coastal and northern Goldfields networks will provide the best opportunity to achieve this."
The Government has also decided that air routes to and within the Kimberley will not be regulated at this stage and will therefore not be part of the current regulatory tender process.
"Air service development in the Kimberley is in a dynamic phase, with several airlines with turbo-prop and jet aircraft interested in growing services," Ms MacTiernan said.
"In this context, a regulatory environment could impede future growth and innovation to the Kimberley reaching its full tourism potential.
"The Gallop Government is improving the quality of services for all Western Australians, wherever they live."
The assessment of applications is expected to be completed by August, 2005, with services commencing in December.
Minister's office: 9213 6400
Airlines are being invited to tender for the regulated intrastate air routes serving regional Western Australian communities.
Making the announcement, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the opening of the tender process met a commitment by the State Government to get the balance right between competition and stability in regional aviation.
Ms MacTiernan said many regional communities throughout Australia had lost their air services and the State Government was committed to ensuring regulation saw WA's major regional and remote communities retained air services.
"In 2002, the State Government regulated non-jet routes to stabilise air services to regional centres," she said.
"The strategy has worked and regional services in WA are now secure and well patronised.
"As a result, we have decided regulation will continue, and in order to comply with national competition policy requirements, we will be inviting applications for the licence rights to operate the regulated routes from today."
It was considered the best way to achieve sustainability and growth within the industry was to maximise the prospects for developing and maintaining sustainable airline networks.
On this basis, the Government will be tendering the regulated routes as two 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.
"Fundamental to this process is that an airline is able to operate the services in a sustainable and viable manner, while delivering the best level of service possible for regional communities, particularly where tourism development is a major component for local economies," the Minister said.
"It is considered that the coastal and northern Goldfields networks will provide the best opportunity to achieve this."
The Government has also decided that air routes to and within the Kimberley will not be regulated at this stage and will therefore not be part of the current regulatory tender process.
"Air service development in the Kimberley is in a dynamic phase, with several airlines with turbo-prop and jet aircraft interested in growing services," Ms MacTiernan said.
"In this context, a regulatory environment could impede future growth and innovation to the Kimberley reaching its full tourism potential.
"The Gallop Government is improving the quality of services for all Western Australians, wherever they live."
The assessment of applications is expected to be completed by August, 2005, with services commencing in December.
Minister's office: 9213 6400