Published on Thursday, 31 August 2023 at 1:17:29 PM
The Town of Port Hedland is partnering with the Port Hedland International Airport (PHIA) to help bring back flights from Hedland to Bali and Brisbane.
At Wednesday night’s Ordinary Council Meeting, councillors endorsed the Town providing payments to incentivise commercial carriers to start a weekly return flight to Brisbane as soon as October or November.
Flights to Bali could start towards the end of this year or early in 2024.
The Town signed an Upside Sharing Deed with PHIA in 2016, which is a profit-sharing agreement that provides funding to the Town when passenger numbers exceed a baseline figure.
The Town has agreed to use some of the money from that Deed in the current partnership to help return the Bali and Brisbane flights.
Mayor Peter Carter said the Town was committed to supporting services that improved liveability and made Hedland a more attractive place to work and live.
“We are confident having a connection to Brisbane on the East coast will be a popular route used by travellers,” he said. “Having that connection is important from an economic point of view, but also socially.
“Our community was also extremely disappointed that Bali flights have not returned after they were cancelled during Covid-19.
“These incentivised payments are a one-off designed to ensure the flights return to Hedland. No money will be paid until the flights start.”
Mayor Carter said the partnership would also help ensure ongoing international airport status for PHIA which would in turn support future expansion of air services and air freight to the region.
PHIA has been in negotiations with numerous commercial carriers who have shown interest in returning these flight routes to Hedland.
PHIA Chief Executive Officer Dave Batic said the financial support from the Town was a first for Port Hedland and would have a positive impact on negotiations with airlines.
“We are having conversations with multiple airlines both domestically and internationally to add Port Hedland to their schedule,” he said.
“Our team has been proactive in selling the benefits of Port Hedland as a destination and is confident we can secure new services into Port Hedland with the support of the Town and improve liveability through connectivity.”
Mr Batic said this partnership showed the collaboration between the PHIA and Town, promoting that Port Hedland was both ‘open’ and ‘ready’ as a destination for airlines to bring their services.
Media Enquiries
Town of Port Hedland, Public Relations Team
Email: media@porthedland.wa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 9111 5000
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