Local launch for SkyAirWorld

QUEENSLAND-BASED airline SkyAirWorld will mark its entry into the Western Australian market with the launch of a direct passenger and freight service between Perth and Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island.

Launching its first route to the Indian Ocean on Friday April 3, SkyAirWorld will operate flights between Perth and the islands on Mondays and Fridays.

The airline will take over from National Jet Systems, whose contract to operate the service expires at the end of March.

SkyAirWorld was awarded the contract for the service following a tender process by the federal government.

The privately owned airline has been in operation since 2006 and runs scheduled flights from Brisbane to the Solomon Islands, Cloncurry and Cairns, as well as international and domestic charters.

"We saw the Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands service as an outstanding opportunity to grow our business and become a long term member of the aviation community in WA," a spokesperson for SkyAirWorld told WA Business News.

The service will use an E190 Embraer jet, which can fly direct to the islands and doesn't need to stop and refuel at Learmouth airport, cutting flight times by almost half.

The new service will also be cheaper, with economy fares starting from $499 including taxes one way and business class fares starting from $999 including taxes.

The E-190 has a 94-seat capacity with 84 economy class seats and 10 business class seats.

Angela Turner, manager of West Perth-based package wholesaler Island Explorer Holidays, has welcomed the new service.

She believes the significantly cheaper fares and shorter travel time will be a major boost to tourism on the islands.

"It's a tough market currently but these Indian Ocean islands are uniquely different and incomparable to other island destinations, like Bali," Ms Turner said.

"Cocos is stunning, it's your typical island look with white sandy palm fringed beaches. Christmas is more of a nature lover's paradise, it's larger and is mostly covered in tropical jungle.

"The SkyAirWorld schedule allows tourists to visit both islands, so it's the best of both worlds."

SkyAirWorld says it is working closely with the community and tourism industry to ensure the success of this new service.

"We're committed to working hand in hand with tourism bodies and the tourism trade to facilitate the continued successful development of both tourism and business on the islands," an airline spokesperson said.

Last month, SkyAirWorld was also successful in its bid to provide air services between Darwin and Bali.

The new services could provide a glimmer of hope for the airline, which recently announced it was shedding jobs at its Brisbane and Cairns bases after some of its north Queensland mining clients couldn't guarantee ongoing business.