Australia's largest provider of contracted air services, Cobham Aviation Services Australia will begin regular direct public flights between Kambalda and Perth next Monday.
Australia's largest provider of contracted air services, Cobham Aviation Services Australia will begin regular direct public flights between Kambalda and Perth next Monday.
The flights to Kambalda, located 55 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia's gold and nickel fields, are an extension of the charter service which began in December last year.
About 300 seats will be available to the public each week.
The charter service followed Gold Fields - St Ives Gold Mine upgrade of the Kambalda airstrip and airport.
Full announcement below:
Kambalda community to benefit from Perth direct flights
Cobham Aviation Services Australia will introduce regular direct public air services between Kambalda and Perth.
The public flights, which will start on October 19, are an extension of the charter service which began in December last year. About 300 seats will be available to the public each week.
Kambalda, with a population of more than 5000, lies 55 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia's gold and nickel fields and is 625 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Cobham Aviation Services Australia's General Manager, Regional Services, Mr Darren Moncrieff, said the public would have the choice of 12 flights a week.
The charter service followed Gold Fields - St Ives Gold Mine upgrade of the Kambalda airstrip and airport.
The daily air service is provided by Cobham Aviation Services Australia Regional Services under contract to Gold Fields St Ives Gold Mine, Avoca Resources Limited, Lanfranchi Nickel Mine and Norseman Gold Pty Ltd.
Mr Moncrieff said the introduction of public air services was an important expansion initiative for Cobham as it continued to target carefully structured and profitable growth in the prevailing market.
"We have a lot of confidence in Kambalda and Western Australia and have expanded our fleet to deliver this service," he said.
"A regular and reliable air service will help grow and sustain all businesses in Kambalda and provide a much-needed community service.
"One of the great benefits of the introduction of the charter service is that it has now opened up to everyone in Kambalda. Instead of driving to Kalgoorlie to catch a flight, the people of Kambalda will be able to fly directly to Perth for business and medical appointments."
Mr Moncrieff said the service was demand driven and "is only going to grow."
Fares, including GST and all taxes and charges, start from $173.25 one-way. Flights will be in a Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft which can carry up to 50 passengers and, with a cruising speed of 470km/h (225 knots), will take about 100 minutes to travel to Perth. Mr Moncrieff said Cobham had installed a special passenger lift to allow disabled people to take advantage of the flights.
A spokesperson for Gold Fields St Ives Gold Mine said that following the completion of the Kambala Airport upgrade, it was always intended that flights would be made available to the people living in the Kambalda community.
"Following the success of the charter flights, the company is pleased that residents of Kambalda can now utilise the public service and its benefits," the spokesperson said.
