Package bid for air traffic

The State Government would consider using holiday packages to boost the number of passengers on flights between Perth and Albany, Transport Minister Dean Nalder said during a visit to the city last Friday.

Last month, Mr Nalder confirmed the Perth-to-Albany air route, which is currently operated under contract by Virgin Regional Airlines, would remain regulated for at least five years after a review of WA's regular public transport routes found it would be unviable to deregulate until passenger numbers reached 100,000.

There has been little change to passenger movements to Albany in recent years, with 57,645 people travelling in the 2007-08 financial year, 55,859 in 2010-11, 57,919 in 2012-13 and 59,347 in 2013-14.

Mr Nalder said the key to increasing passenger numbers would be to tap into the tourism market. He said he had discussed the idea with Tourism Minister Dr Kim Hames and other tourism bodies.

"We see packaging as a potential, not only for Albany but for all regional destinations up and down our coast," he said.

"So what we've got to do is get together with hotels and the airlines and make sure that works.

"(We are) working with the airlines and we are considering that through the tender process to see what can be adopted and we will be looking at that favourably if those initiatives can be undertaken."

Mr Nalder said the packages would be piloted in some regional areas to see if they can "get off the ground".

He said the airlines had survived only through corporate and government travel and, given WA's modest population, it would be a difficult task for the State Government to enter the casual travel market.

"There's not enough population here in Western Australia to drive independent airlines or low-cost airlines, so we've got to somehow work out how to mix it with government and corporate travel," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Nalder said the Albany Ring Road project was "under consideration" and remained a priority among thousands of projects.

"The ring road is something that is under consideration, it is anticipated to cost in the order of $300 million dollars," he said.

"So it is one of the challenges when you've got such a large project and putting it in prioritisation not just in this community but also across Western Australia.

"We do see the ring road as important, but we see other important initiatives down here, it's a matter of prioritising those, getting the funding, seeking support from other areas to see how we can make them happen."

Albany MLA Peter Watson said the project wouldn't happen under the Liberal-National Government.

"It's a thought bubble," he said.

Mr Watson said the Chester Pass Road roundabout was "an accident waiting to happen" and a better way for trucks to get to Albany Port needed to be found.