Why are regional flights so expensive?
Getting in and out of Australia’s regional cities is not only time-consuming, it’s really expensive.
No wonder many Aussies opt for international travel when the cost of plane ticket ends up being considerably cheaper than holidaying in one’s own backyard.
For example, a flight from Sydney to Alice Springs costs $711, whereas Sydney to Adelaide is $158.
Even if you were to plan ahead, as all airlines recommend to score a cheaper deal, a trip Sydney to Alice Springs still costs just under $700.
In Western Australia, the high costs of flights to regional airports are subject to a parliamentary inquiry.
WA Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the committee had the power to “get to the bottom of why these fares are so expensive and give airlines the opportunity to provide solutions”.
According to aviation experts, the combination of landing fees, fuel costs, aircraft and crew costs, as well levels of demand and the volume of traffic on any route is the reason behind the high prices.
A spokesman for Qantas told news.com.au the airline was aware of frustrations about pricing.
“We’ve been in discussions with regional communities for some time about their concerns on pricing,” the spokesman said in a statement.
“We can understand it’s frustrating when sale fares on longer routes are cheaper than some regional fares, but this has a lot to do with economies of scale.”
The per-kilometre cost for smaller aircraft in smaller markets was “significantly higher”.
“These dynamics are true to regional routes across Australia as well as domestic markets overseas,” the spokesman said.
A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the company is “committed to providing competitive airfares on regional routes.
“Airfares on these routes are driven by a combination of factors, including demand, competition, operating costs and airport pricing and taxes.
“Virgin always encourages people to book as early as possible to access cheapest flights.”
Regional carrier Regional Express Airlines (REX) has previously said it couldn’t compete with major carriers servicing big city destinations.
“Unfortunately the cost of doing business in a regional marketplace isn’t conducive to producing those types of fare levels,” a spokesman said.