Broome to Singapore flights going ahead
International air service linking Broome to Singapore will finally be trialled next year following months of talks and negotiations.
SilkAir—the regional arm of Singapore Airlines—will run four return flights to the resort town from mid 2018 using 737 aircraft, which can carry 150 economy and 12 business class passengers.
Local people will be able to book on any of the flights, which have the potential to deliver hundreds of visitors from Singapore to Broome and the Kimberley.
Fares and flight schedules will be released soon and Broome-based Australia’s North West Tourism will work with SilkAir to develop packages for travellers.
Tickets will also be available on SilkAir’s online reservation system.
Tourism WA will promote the flights and deals through its Singapore office.
The trial has resulted from a partnership between Broome International Airport, the Shire of Broome, SilkAir and ANWT.
Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said increasing aviation access into WA would help the State Government achieve its goal of boosting economies through visitor spend and creating more jobs.
While the current deal with SilkAir is for four return trial flights, we are hopeful that the demand for the service will be high and lead the way for further services in the future,” he said.
ANWT chief executive Glen Chidlow said the service would reap benefits to tourism operators in WA’s north.
“These flights are very much based on inbound tourism, which will result in a positive economic benefit to the region and, ultimately, to WA,” he said.
“Singapore is an international hub and securing these flights opens Broome and the Kimberley to a much larger market.”
Broome Shire president Harold Tracey said the flights would benefit businesses in town.
“The real winner is the business community of Broome that is ready to welcome the influx of new visitors,” he said.
“Broome residents will benefit from these flights also by being able to fly direct to Singapore.”
BIA chief executive Paul McSweeney said the airport welcomed the new service and had been working behind the scenes to bring it to fruition.
“The airport’s focus is very much on route development,” he said.
“We see tourism playing an important role in how we achieve passenger growth in the coming years.”
“We have seen how the leisure sector has enabled direct flights to Broome from the east coast over the last decade and more.
“The next chapter is how we can replicate this success on an international route.”
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