Regional WA Travellers Fear Airfare Hikes as Future of Cap Scheme Remains Unclear

Regional Western Australians are growing increasingly anxious about the future of affordable flights as the state’s Regional Airfare Zone Cap Scheme faces uncertainty beyond June 30, 2026. The program, which caps one-way flights to Perth at 199 dollars for routes under 1,000 kilometres and 299 dollars for longer routes, has been hailed as a lifeline for residents in remote towns.

Concerns have spiked after travellers attempting to book flights beyond the scheme’s current end date discovered steep price increases. In Karratha, return fares to Perth were listed at more than 1,000 dollars, compared to the current capped cost of around 600 dollars. In Kalgoorlie, fares jumped to 340 dollars, which is 141 dollars higher than the capped price.

For residents like Ms Hall of Karratha, the uncertainty is deeply personal. “Being a senior citizen, it impacts living in Karratha,” she said. “I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and with the cost of living, insurance, and health expenses, higher airfares would make life even harder.” She explained that she frequently travels to Perth to care for her 92-year-old mother-in-law, and the potential rise in fares would place a heavy burden on her family.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has praised the scheme as a success, saying the government is “incredibly proud” of its achievements. She confirmed that the program will continue beyond June 2026 but stopped short of guaranteeing that the current capped prices will remain in place. “We’ve been undertaking a review into the scheme to ensure it is delivering for regional communities, and we look forward to making some important announcements before the end of the year,” she said.

The lack of clarity has left many regional residents uneasy. For communities where air travel is often the only practical option for medical care, family responsibilities, or business, the difference between capped and uncapped fares could mean hundreds of dollars more per trip.

As the review continues, regional travellers are waiting anxiously for confirmation on whether the cap will remain intact or whether they will face a sharp rise in airfare costs once the scheme’s current funding expires.