PASSENGER numbers at Mount Gambier Airport have started to climb following the introduction of the Regional Express community fare.
New figures released by Grant District Council yesterday show the number of passengers jumped by 6.7pc in October and 1.7pc last month.
This initial upward swing is considered significant given the passenger numbers were falling in the months before the introduction of the community fare scheme.
The scheme was brokered in early September between Regional Express and Grant District Council, which now gives passengers $129 conditional one-way fares on a portion of seats to Adelaide and Melbourne.
The early figures are considered positive given the looming $9.2m redevelopment of the airport, which will see a refurbishment and expansion of the terminal and runway infrastructure.
Council chief executive officer David Singe said he was buoyed by the early results flowing from the community partnership.
“It is quite a clear turnaround – we are very pleased,” Mr Singe told The Border Watch.
While it was only early days in the community fare, he foreshadowed these numbers should continue to rise gradually.
“It is absolutely going in the right direction,” Mr Singe said.
“With some marketing, these figures could go further.”
He said the figures showed the Adelaide route had higher passenger numbers than the Melbourne route, which was sitting at 43pc last month.
But he explained the Melbourne route was seasonal with a lift in passenger numbers expected during the AFL season.
Mayor Richard Sage – who helped to broker the community partnership deal with Regional Express – said he anticipated a rise in passenger numbers.
“This is just the start of it – people are having to get used to booking early to get these tickets,” Mr Sage said.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin – who was also instrumental in brokering the deal with the regional airline – also welcomed the initial figures.
“While it’s still early days and we are yet to see the full impact of the community fares initiative, these early figures are a very positive sign,” Mr Pasin said.
“It’s an indication the initiative has stopped the decline in passengers using the service.
An increase in passenger numbers will make the service sustainable, which was always the end game – affordable, regular and reliable service.
“Our community relies on a regular flight service to connect us with the business community and health services in Adelaide and Melbourne,” Mr Pasin said.
The $129 “Rex Community Fare” is available on 25pc of seats on flights to both Melbourne and Adelaide for advanced bookings of at least 30 days before departure.
In addition, all remaining seats one day before departure will be available at the Community Fare (Rex Promo) level.
Rex has also previously committed to giving priority to the community of Mount Gambier in allocation of additional services to the Mount Gambier to Adelaide route once Rex has been able to rebuild pilot numbers.
In exchange, Grant council has committed to lowering the Mount Gambier airport head tax by $2.20 inclusive of GST, which Rex is matching with a further $2.20 reduction off all fares.
The historic five year partnership agreement is in place until June 30, 2023.
