Air travel from Perth to Broome and Perth to Karratha fell dramatically in January compared to the same month in 2016, according to the latest data by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.
Around 15,400 passengers travelled on the Perth to Broome route in January, 29.2 per cent less than in that month of 2016.
On the Karratha route the figures were even worse, down 33 per cent to 26,540 passengers.
That’s less than half the level it was five years ago, around 57,000 passengers in the month.
Those two routes were the worst performers in the nation, according to Commsec chief economist Craig James.
Trips to Port Hedland were up 3.6 per cent, to 26,000, however.
Nationally, domestic travel was up 2.8 per cent compared to January last year, Mr James said.
“After the lull in December it seems that businesses lifted their air travel in January,” he said.
“Interestingly, passenger numbers on the key Sydney-Melbourne route peaked in November, slipped in December and then lifted by a healthy 1.6 per cent in January.
“And while passenger numbers remain strong, seat occupancy on planes eased from record highs.
“Locations like Hobart and Hamilton Island have benefited from more Aussies travelling domestically than overseas over the past year.
“The Tasmanian economy has good momentum at present with the number of passengers on the Hobart-Sydney route growing at the fastest annual rate in a decade.”
