Eastern flights in expansion plan

Direct flights to the Eastern States could soon be available under a $45 million expansion of Busselton Regional Airport.

However, under the plan, the number of flights to Perth and regional WA would not increase.

South West Development Commission chief executive Don Punch said the business case for the expansion of the airport had been completed and was with the State Government awaiting a decision.

Busselton Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ray McMillan said only 16 per cent of interstate visitors flying to Perth visited Busselton.

He said he hoped direct flights from other States would bolster the number of people flying to the region.

"We're the main destination for Eastern States visitors in WA and we're the main tourist destination outside Perth," he said.

"Having an Eastern States connection will be a real attraction for tourism and create another entry point into Busselton."

Mr McMillan said increased numbers of flights from Perth to Busselton would be unnecessary under the expansion.

Busselton resident Lee Edmundson said he would often fly from Busselton to Albany and from Busselton to Perth for work, but had been forced to drive after Virgin Australia reduced flights last year.

He said flights from Perth to Busselton should also be increased.

"A lot of people don't know that there are flights to Perth," he said.

"If they were promoted properly and there was a good timetable, then people would use them.

"At the moment it's useless to Busselton residents.

"The convenience of flying to Perth, not having to deal with traffic or parking, is definitely worth it."

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said the expansion was the next best in the development of the region.

"I have pushed a strong case for the airport expansion with the Premier and my Cabinet colleagues as I believe it would be a significant boost for Busselton," she said.

"The City of Busselton have undertaken much work into a business case into the expansion of the airport which says if people had the option of flying directly from Melbourne or Sydney to Busselton, to the Busselton and the Margaret River region, it would be sustainable."

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said if the demand was there, then intrastate flights could increase in the future.