This is part of the reason the City of Karratha applied for international airport status with the federal government’s infrastructure department last month.<\/p>\n
If the application is successful, Karratha could be the only regional airport in Western Australia servicing direct international commercial flights, since international routes have collapsed in both Broome<\/a> and Port Hedland.<\/p>\n The renewed push comes a decade after Karratha last had international airport status<\/a> on its radar when it received substantial upgrades.<\/p>\n A strong business case<\/p>\n The City of Karratha said it was confident it could get international offerings off the ground, citing Singapore and Bali as likely destinations under a “restricted use” designation.<\/p>\n City of Karratha chief executive Virginia Miltrup said she expected initial flights would primarily be for Pilbara residents as outbound tourists, but expected interest from inbound internationals to build.<\/p>\n Virginia Miltrup says there is a strong business case for international flights to Karratha. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)<\/p>\n “Our business case is actually built a lot around inbound,” she said.<\/p>\n “There’s a lot of people coming through for business purposes because we’re such an economic engine here.”<\/p>\n The city was optimistic about the application but Ms Miltrup said international flights were still years away.<\/p>\n “If we’re talking about 18 months before we get a decision [from the federal government], you’re talking a few years at least,” she said.<\/p>\n “It’ll happen as soon as we can possibly make it happen.”<\/p>\n Locals hopeful for take-off<\/p>\n Karratha locals were excited by the prospect of an international airport.<\/p>\n Business owner Ginger Lo said she would like to visit her home in Taiwan.<\/p>\n Ginger Lo is excited by the prospect of an international airport in Karratha. (ABC News: Kimberley Putland)<\/p>\n “It’s gonna be super, super convenient because we normally travel from Perth to Singapore, Singapore to Taiwan because there’s no direct flight from Perth to Taiwan,” she said.<\/p>\n “If we can have that flight happening in Singapore, it’s going to be really beneficial and bring more people to Karratha.”<\/p>\n Karratha resident Gregory Dodd said there would be a plenty of appetite for international routes.<\/p>\n Greg Dodd says there would be high demand for international services. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)<\/p>\n “That would be a great idea, especially for locals that are wanting to go to Bali and overseas,” he said.<\/p>\n “Instead of going down to Perth, they can come here and just organise their flights to go internationally straight from this area.”<\/p>\n Regional challenges<\/p>\n A two-hour drive north from Karratha, Port Hedland’s airport no longer services regular commercial international flights after its 25-year-long service to Bali halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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