Rival bidder emerges to take on Broome-Singapore flights

Competition for the coveted, and long-awaited, introduction of regular international passenger services between Singapore and Broome has intensified with reports of a late bid for the route.

WA Business News understands Australia’s North West Tourism, project managers of the Broome International Gateway project, and the state government have received a late contender after apparently having settled on an airline and government funding for marketing the route.

Singapore-based low cost carrier Tiger Airways was reportedly the front-runner for the regular passenger service between Singapore and Broome, however a last-minute bid was submitted by another airline, which could not be named.

Tourism Western Australia chief executive officer, Richard Muirhead, said negotiations were still open and “all airlines are encouraged to be part of the discussions”.

Regional Western Australian carrier Skywest flagged the possibility of introducing a number of new routes, including the Singapore-Broome and flights to Melbourne in May.

But a Skywest spokesperson told WA Business News these new flights were a long-term possibility and “not at all concrete”.

Singapore Airlines’ regional wing, Silk Air, also was a contender to service the route, approaching both Australia’s North West Tourism and the state government, with an offer to start services as early as April this year.

ANW has been spearheading the charge to establish Broome as an international gateway to the Kimberley and Pilbara regions for almost three years.
ANW has received federal government funding through the Australian Tourism Development Program to research and develop the Singapore-Broome route, in addition to funds from other industry stakeholders including Tourism WA, the Kimberley Development Commission and Broome International Airport.

Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said the state government had committed $500,000 each year to promote tourism by attracting new or existing airlines to start new routes or expand their current capacity and frequency into the state.

“We see the Broome-Singapore route as having significant tourism potential,” she said.

“The funds are provided as incentives and marketing strategies to promote these new routes.”

Broome International Airport in its current form will be able to service the Airbus A320 aircraft being touted for the route, which is capable of seating about 150 passengers.

The airport is currently looking to expand its facilities to accommodate demand from the oil and gas industries, and to separate industry requirements from large tourist passenger aircraft.