The Department of Transport has told regional airline Rex it can continue operating services between Perth and Albany, and Perth and Esperance, until mid-2023.
Rex’s current five-year deed to service the two routes was due to expire on 27 February.
Director of Aviation at the Department, Peter Ryan said Rex would continue to have exclusive rights to operate the two air routes.
“Given the current uncertainty in the aviation market, extending Rex’s agreement to keep operating these flights for the next two years gives certainty to people who travel between Perth, and Albany and Esperance,” Mr Ryan said.
“The extension of Rex’s deed of agreement for the Esperance and Albany air routes to 30 June 2023 aligns them with the current terms of three other fully-regulated air routes operating under deeds of agreement.
“These are Carnarvon-Monkey Mia and two Northern Goldfields routes, which include the towns of Mt Magnet, Meekatharra, Wiluna, Laverton and Leonora.”
He said the alignment would allow all five routes to be tendered together once their current terms expired, enabling airlines to consider all regulated air routes at the one time.
“Rex has been providing 14 return flights per week on the Albany route and 13 on the Esperance route,” Mr Ryan said.
“Ensuring this current level of service continues is vitally important to ensure local residents have frequent and affordable flights to and from Perth,” he said.
