Nexus Airlines, Australia’s new start-up, owned by Aviair is expected to launch commercial operations from July 2023. The state of Western Australia, along with the local governments and Broome and Port Hedland's airports, has contributed more than AU $8 million in aid to enable the new services to take off and ensure that the routes remain financially viable.
Nexus Airlines proposes to deliver more routes, upgraded services and cheaper airfares for regional Western Australians. The West Australian State Government granted Aviair a monopoly right to assist in the establishment of the Inter-region Flight Network (IRFN) service in 2019. It has now committed $4.05 million over four years until June 2027 to enhance the service and extend the network to Geraldton.
Nexus Airlines will fly 76-seater regional turboprop aircraft on the expanded IRFN operations between Geraldton-Karratha-Port Hedland-Broome and return along with other regional routes across Western Australia. The aircraft has eight times more carrying capacity than Aviair’s nine-seater light aircraft that is currently used on the existing IRFN route.
The IRFN provides direct air travel for regional residents between major business and tourism centres in the State’s Mid-West, Pilbara and Kimberley regions, saving time for travellers by removing the need to travel via Perth.
Speaking on the new regional proposal, state Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said: “The launch of a new airline is a massive win for aviation in regional WA, and the upgrade of the Inter-Regional Flight Network is the culmination of a lot of hard work between the State Government and Aviair. We have invested more than $4 million to expand the Inter-Regional Flight Network, and the launch of Nexus Airlines will mean bigger planes, more routes, better services and cheaper airfares for regional Western Australians.”
Nexus Airlines has also announced a new Geraldton-Perth service.
Customers of Nexus Airlines’ Geraldton-Perth service will have access to the Government’s popular Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme, making air travel more affordable for regional Western Australians.