Flights need 'ramp up': Skywest

Passenger flights have taken more people away from Busselton than they have brought to the region, according to estimated figures from their first three months of operation.

Skywest’s 46-seater commercial flights, which were tipped to draw in more tourists to the region, have brought an average of about “five or six” visitors to Busselton each week.

Shire of Busselton commercial services manager Jenny May said passenger figures from Perth to Busselton were “really low” and less popular than the Busselton to Albany service which still failed to attract more than 10 people on average.

Skywest’s Alan Stewart conceded the company wanted to “ramp up” the number of seats sold but said it would allow a year before any decisions on the service’s future were made.

“It’s something that this sort of thing you’ve got to do it for at least a sustained period of all the seasons to cover all bases,” Mr Stewart said.

Skywest representatives met Shire staff last week to discuss marketing opportunities which council agreed to contribute to as part of its Capes Region Organisation of Councils with Margaret River.

The State Government recently rejected a $20,000 funding request from CAPEROC for the marketing.

Mr Stewart said the passenger flights were only a “small part” of driving tourists to the region and it needed to market itself to draw in visitors.

Ms May said the shire was keen to see the flights become viable and avoid the fate of other similar commercial ventures which ended due to low passenger numbers.

She said passenger numbers increased in September and was keen to see them continue into the upcoming tourist season.

“We want to make sure that this flight is sustainable and keeps its numbers up so Skywest keeps operating the service,” she said.

Geographe Bay Tourism Association chief executive Matt Walker said the flights started during the quietest visitation time of the year and believed they tracked above Skywest’s expectations.

“There is no doubt during coming months as the weather improves the service will become even more popular,” Mr Walker said.

He said the flights generated interest from interstate and overseas travel wholesalers who saw air access as a prerequisite for featuring the region in brochures and travel programs.

Mr Stewart said Skywest was considering charter flights to bring visitors to Busselton for events during summer.