Air Link has welcomed the NSW Government's decision to extend the Western Air Services Subsidy for a further 12 months, securing air services to Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge through to November 2027.
The extension, announced by Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty, gives certainty to far western NSW communities that rely on the regular connections. Air Link currently operates eight return services a week across the three towns under the subsidised program.
Air Link Executive Director Matthew Kline said the flights were far more than a transport option for the region. "For the communities we serve, these flights are a lifeline. They provide a fast and reliable connection to Dubbo where many healthcare, business and other services are located," he said. "The distances involved in western NSW are enormous and without these flights, people face many hours on the road each way."
A recent passenger survey found travellers save an average of seven hours on a one-way trip compared with driving, and 94 per cent of respondents considered the air services critical.
Executive Director Mark Wardrop said the services remained dependent on continued government backing. "The reality is that these services are not commercially sustainable without continued government support," he said. "We welcome the Minns Government's decision to extend the subsidy for another year and, importantly, its commitment to work with the region on a longer-term solution beyond November 2027."
Air Link also credited the advocacy of Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP, whose electorate takes in Bourke, Walgett and Lightning Ridge. Kline said Butler had made a strong case to Minister Moriarty for continued funding, giving local communities and passengers greater certainty for the year ahead.
Air Link was established in Dubbo in 1974 and has operated continuously across western NSW since. The airline says it will keep working with the NSW Government, local councils and communities on a long-term solution for regional air services beyond 2027.