NW airfares battle to rage on into the new year

The battle for cheaper airfares in the north is raging on, with Member for Durack Melissa Price committing to continue the fight for a fairer deal for residents.

Despite claims to the contrary, prices are “about the same” for Qantas flights out of Newman 12 months ahead, according to Ms Price, who last month wrote to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce asking him to review airfare prices in the North West.

Ms Price said while she hadn’t yet received a response from Qantas to her letter, she said she had met with a representative from the airline in Canberra recently who gave her a “commitment” that they were trying to offer more affordable prices across the Pilbara.

“If I haven’t received a response by the new year, then I will get in touch with them again, however I am confident they will respond by then, ” she said.

The comments by Ms Price follow a meeting between Qantas and the Shire of East Pilbara representatives about the ongoing battle over prices.

Shire president Lynne Craigie has said for months, the people of Newman had been subjected to extraordinarily high airfares for the short flight to Perth.

“As a council, we have a responsibility to speak to the airline carriers on behalf of our residents, ” she said.

“Our permanent residents, who live and work here, are vital to our community and it is scandalous to charge them premium prices if they need to fly to Perth for whatever the reason.”

The Shire is still urging a representative from the airline to visit Newman to speak to the community about how they justify the pricing structures while also urging them to investigate different price options.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the reality was 75 per cent of customers in regional WA purchased Red e-Deal fares, which were the lowest lead-in fares.

“We understand there are some concerns in parts of the community about the perception of high airfares in regional WA,” she said.

“We are also regularly on sale in regional WA, and we’re currently offering sale fares of $216 one-way from Newman to Perth.”