Qantas: High cost of regional airfares in WA due to airport costs and unidirectionality of routes

12 September, 2017

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David, speaking at a Western Australia (WA) Economics and Industry Standing Committee inquiry into regional airfares, said regional airports in the state are in the top 15 most expensive airports in Qantas domestic network, due to high maintenance, labour and other costs (The West/ABC News, 11-Sep-2017). Mr David said another factor contributing to airfare prices is the "high cost is directionality", with Qantas operating full aircraft in one direction and relatively empty aircraft back from towns where demand is underpinned by fly-in, fly-out traffic.