Western Australia’s largest business delegation is currently on a multi-city visit to India. While discussions are primarily focused on trade relations between the two regions, the stakeholders also talked about the possibility of a direct flight connection between Perth and India.

Perth-India flights

Latest reports from discussions between Western Australia’s business delegation and Indian counterparts have piqued the interests of aviation enthusiasts. It has emerged that WA’s visiting delegates are keen on establishing a direct flight connection between Pert and India to boost the region’s economy and tourism industry.

The two airlines being considered at the moment are Air India and IndiGo. Air India currently flies its Dreamliners to Melbourne and Sydney, and IndiGo – which doesn’t have long-range jets – could potentially be roped in for partnership agreements.

Roger Cook, WA's Deputy Premiere, and the Minister of State Development, Jobs and Trade, Tourism, Commerce, and Science, told BusinessLine during an interview,

“We are going to have meetings with a range of companies. The Tatas, who are a major aviation company in India... We are looking forward to sitting down with them and explore the opportunities of direct flights between India and Perth, Western Australia. The other company is IndiGo.”

Lucrative market

In December 2021, Qantas resumed its flights to India, connecting Sydney with New Delhi. This was its first flight to the country in almost 10 years. But there was good reason for the airline to make a return. Air India had already started operating nonstop flights to Sydney and Melbourne, and data from those services was impressive.

More than 700,000 Indian immigrants live in Australia, and AI flew more than 182,000 passengers nonstop in either direction between the two countries on 834 flights in 2019. Demand for travel between India and Australia is so high that even other international airlines are vying for a slice of the pie.

In 2019, Singapore Airlines carried more India-Australia passengers than any other operator. No wonder Qantas is launching a nonstop Bengaluru-Sydney flight in September, making it the first direct connection to Australia from southern India.

The case for Perth

When it comes to the India-Australia sector, Sydney and Melbourne almost always hog the limelight. And while the two cities are important destinations, for obvious reasons, Perth also has plenty of potential for a direct connection.

India is Western Australia’s largest market for international students, accounting for 20% of enrollments in 2021. The WA Government is also keen on strengthening government and industry connections, unlocking opportunities for WA businesses in the Indian market, and promoting the State as a destination for tourists, students, talent, events, trade, and investment.

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At the moment, anyone flying from India to Perth has to take a one-stop flight from Southeast Asia, which starts at around ₹66,000 (approx. $830). This is cheaper than flying to Sydney or Melbourne, where fares hover around ₹96,000 (approx. $1,200).

Given the developing ties between the two regions and the significant Indian population in Western Australia, perhaps some airlines could be persuaded to start direct connections in the near future.

Would you like to see direct flights between Perth and India? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine