North West tourism and aviation company HMC Group launches new regional carrier Nexus Airlines in WA

A powerhouse North West tourism and aviation company is taking its goal to connect country communities to new heights after launching WA’s first new regional airline in more than two decades. Unveiled in Perth on Wednesday, Nexus Airlines will run regular return services on 76-seater aircraft between Geraldton and Perth, and between Broome, Kununurra and Darwin. It will also expand the existing Inter Regional Flight Network between Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome. A fleet of five De Havilland NextGen Dash 8 — Q400 aircraft will take to the skies in July, transporting both business and leisure travellers across the Mid West, Pilbara and Kimberley after tickets go on sale this week. Nexus is the first regional airline to launch in WA since REX in 2002. Behind the plan is WA aviation and tourism business HMC Group, which owns a portfolio of businesses including Kununurra-based Aviair, Bungle Bungle Savannah Lodge, Bungle Bungle Guided Tours, Kimberley Experiences and the Australian Helicopter Academy. HMC Group director Michael McConachy said the creation of Nexus and the new regional routes were an answer to about seven years of low capacity. “Having lived in the Kimberley now for 14 years, and seen the importance of good, reliable air services at regional airports, I know it is a key economic driver for the regions and the communities,” Mr McConachy said. “We are in a sweet spot; we are not looking to compete with the major airlines, but we are looking to fill a much-needed gap in the market between the larger airlines and smaller charter, air transport operators. “Our goal is to build a new regional airline, with comfortable, reliable air service … aviation is expensive but we are working hard to provide this service at a price point that is accessible for the majority to be able to better access regional WA.” Nexus has opened new aviation bases in Geraldton and Broome, with plans to employ 20 to 30 people within 12 months. Its branding has been developed in conjunction with Kununurra-based Waringarri Aboriginal Arts Centre, with senior artists and Miriwoong elders Peggy Griffiths and Ben Ward creating a unique design for the planes’ tails. The State Government tipped in $4 million to launch the new airline, with that contribution collectively matched nearly dollar-for-dollar by the Shire of Broome, Town of Port Hedland, City of Karratha, City of Greater Geraldton, with further funding from the Broome International Airport and Port Hedland International Airport. Nexus will connect the Kimberley, Pilbara and Mid West regions through the local and State Government-supported Inter Regional Flight Network, which was launched in 2019 with the aim of better connecting regional WA through air travel. Mr McConachy said the “milk run” service through the IRFN would operate three times per week, taking off from Geraldton, and stopping in Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome. Meanwhile, the Geraldton to Perth flights will operate twice daily. It is also expected the Broome-Kununurra-Darwin leg will also operate daily, but is likely to vary seasonally. In August 2019, the State Government launched the IRFN to help Aviair connect Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland and Broome — building on services from Kununurra to Kalumburu, Halls Creek and Balgo Aviair launched between 2016-18. Two years later, Aviair launched the first Broome to Derby scheduled air service. “We are about working with key stakeholders and communities to see where there is demand, whether it be insufficient services or services that don’t exist at all,” Mr McConachy said. “That’s what we have done over the past seven or so years, and I think we have added significant value to regional WA and to some very remote parts of WA.” Mr McConachy said Nexus would replace what it had been doing in the IRFN service, and upgrade capacity from nine seats to 74. He also flagged potential for the airline to expand into other routes in WA and interstate, and to reduce the cost for passengers. “This is a public-private partnership I am very proud of,” he said. “It has taken a lot of effort on all sides to develop this and it is very unique — where you have a number of local governments, the State Government, two private airports and a private company working together to expand regional air services. “We have seen the differences we have made to some regional towns, and some very small towns, by providing increased air services.” Mr McConachy said the company also had a goal of better connecting the Kimberley and the Eastern States by lining up its flights with connections in Darwin. “To be able to hub through Darwin during the day, we can connect with a lot of the east coast flights, so you will be able to transit in both directions within a day,” he said. “We hope that will reduce the time and cost involved with travelling to the Eastern States.” WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the investment aligned with the State Government’s aim to support regional aviation and make it “more accessible and affordable for regional communities”. “We allocated more than $4 million in the last State Budget to expand the inter-regional flight network, and the launch of Nexus Airlines is a massive milestone in our Government’s push for great access to air travel in regional areas,” she said. “The launch of this new service marks the first time in WA’s regional aviation that we will have a direct service between Geraldton and Karratha. “We know how expensive flying in regional areas can be, but by encouraging greater competition and more services, we can help drive down costs.”