Perth-Broome air route on a flyer

The flight link connecting Broome and Perth is one of the fastest-growing routes in the nation, a recent study has found.

According to a CommSec report released last week, the number of passengers flying between the capital city and Broome in the 2017-18 financial year had grown by 19 per cent, the second highest growth in Australia.

The findings showed 288,933 passengers travelled on the air route in 2016-17, compared to 343,843 in 2017-18.

The significant surge in traffic was only edged out by the Brisbane to Proserpine link, which saw a 19.42 per cent hike.

Broome International Airport chief executive Paul McSweeney said the findings were fantastic for the town.

“It is very exciting to see that BIA has re-entered a growth phase,” he said.

“More importantly, Broome is well positioned for this growth to continue because of a number of projects around town that indicate that is the case.”

Mr McSweeney said a number of initiatives had the potential to see the high number of passengers continue, including the Qantas discounted flights trial, the possibility of more international flights, oil and gas operations, and increased cruise ship visits.

He said pastoral and agricultural exports out of the airport were a long-term possibility and flights from the Eastern States were being targeted.

“We look forward to working with industry to take advantage of more opportunities,” he said.

“BIA has proven to have the capacity to add infrastructure quickly and ramp up service levels as required.”

The Broome Advertiser reported last November more than 2000 Shell and Inpex workers were passing through Broome each month before being flown to the offshore Browse Basin, 425km north of town.

Inpex external affairs general manager Bill Townsend said oil and gas operations would have a significant impact on the data, given the company was the biggest user of BIA.

“Approximately 90 workers fly in and out of Broome airport each weekday,” he said.

Australia’s North West Tourism chief executive Natasha Mahar welcomed the report.

“This is great, positive news for Broome and it is encouraging to see these increasing numbers,” she said.

“We are hopeful this trend will continue and the leisure component strengthens over the shoulder season due to the Qantas Perth to Broome weekend sales fares.”

The only other regional route in WA on the list was Kalgoorlie to Perth, which had 8.47 per cent growth.