The Affordable Airfares Program is designed to boost tourism and business for Broome (pictured), Kununurra and Exmouth. Photo: Broome International Airport.
The Western Australian Government has announced it will extend its Affordable Airfares Program for a seventh consecutive year.
Designed to make air travel within Australia’s largest state more affordable and to support regional tourism, the program will see the government this year subsidise nearly 40,000 airline tickets on air routes between Perth and Broome, Exmouth and Kununurra.
As part of the program, funding has been allocated to the airlines Airnorth, Nexus Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Australia to provide discounted airfares on the routes, but is dependent on the dates of travel.
Example airfares and availability include 16,400 fares from Perth to Broome flying Virgin Australia from $179 and $199 one-way, and 5700 seats from Perth to Kununurra from $259 one-way; nearly 7500 seats from Perth to Exmouth on Qantas from $199 and $209 one-way; and a total of more than 8700 fares between Broome and Kununurra flying on Airnorth or on Nexus Airlines from $199 one-way.
The government says the program helps to improve the affordability of regional airfares throughout the state as well as driving visitors to key tourism hubs that heavily depend on air access.
It says that since the program’s inception in 2018, it has sold nearly 150,000 of the discounted fares, including more than 32,000 in 2024 for services into Broome, Kununurra, and Exmouth.
This program is in addition to the government’s Regional Airfare Zone Cap which is designed to support regional residents 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.
Premier Roger Cook said regional WA was the best place in the world to visit.
“My WA Labor Government is making it easy for people across the country to head to our regional towns and cities,” he said.
“This program provides a major boost to regional tourism, creating jobs and keeping local economies strong throughout the state.
Regional airlines Airnorth and Nexus are offering 8700 discounted fares between Broome and Kununurra. Photo: Airnorth.
Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said she was proud to deliver the Affordable Airfares Program for another year, saying it would make WA travel more affordable and accessible for both out-of-state tourists and residents.
“This program plays a vital role in driving visitors to our regional hubs, providing a boost to local tourism operators and businesses that depend on air access to thrive,” she said.
“With over 32,000 tickets sold last year alone, this program has proven to be a game changer, delivering significant savings for travellers and helping to grow tourism in some of WA’s most beautiful and remote areas.”
