Regional Development Minister Don Punch concedes international flights to Busselton Airport on the radar

Regional Development Minister Don Punch has given the strongest signal yet that the future of international flights to the region are no longer up in the air. The City of Busselton and consultants KPMG have been putting the finishing touches on a fresh business case the State Government demanded to quell dissent around the lack of a full passenger terminal at Busselton Airport. The Times understands the new business case will consider scenarios in which future carriers pitch direct flights into the region from South-East Asia — a long-held ambition for the city as well as the tourism industry. “We were pleased to announce last year the appointment of KPMG by the city of Busselton to the business case, which is investigating a variety of infrastructure options that support regular public transport flights,” Mr Punch told the Times. “This includes consideration of the existing infrastructure and new infrastructure to the extent it can facilitate projected (regular passenger transport) demand.” In providing some details about how the new business case would differ from the one already produced — which guided the existing airport’s expansion — Mr Punch said passenger facilities were on the list. One option to be outlined in the new case was the footprint required for a bigger terminal to accommodate future international airlines. International flights require immigration as well as customs capabilities. However, the business case will also provide cheaper options, which includes reconfiguring and refurbishing the existing terminal deemed inadequate by Vasse MLA and Liberal Party leader Libby Mettam. Ms Mettam said the recent start of direct flights from Sydney showed the need for upgraded passenger facilities. “The commencement of this new service demonstrates there is a competitive market for direct travel to the region but will undoubtedly put further pressure on the current airport terminal infrastructure which has reached capacity,” she said. Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association chair Stuart Hicks said direct flights brought exactly the type of tourist that benefited the region most. “They are motivated to immerse deeply in the destinations they visit and seek to engage authentically with a place and its people,” he said. “The addition of the Sydney service just two years after the launch of the Melbourne service further highlights the requirement to improve Busselton Airport’s terminal facilities to ensure it can cater to the needs of airlines, passengers and staff.” A Jetstar spokesperson declined to outline the carrier’s next steps for Busselton. “The Melbourne-Busselton service has been a huge success for two years, and the new Sydney-Busselton flights have performed strongly in their first weeks,” they said. “In terms of future plans out of Busselton, there’s no new announcements but we’re always looking for opportunities to expand our network in future.”