Skywest Airlines will take over the regular public transport (RPT) route connecting Perth and Derby (Curtin) following the collapse of Air Australia.
Perth based Skywest will operate the route Monday through Friday beginning today, with flights leaving Perth at 6 am and departing Derby at 9:30am. Skywest will operate the route, which is regulated by the WA Department of Transport, on an interim three month basis.
Skywest CEO Mark Shelton said the airline is keen to assist those in Derby who have been stranded after Air Australia ran out of money and ceased flights on Friday.
“As a regional airline, we are committed to assisting our regional passengers wherever possible,” he said.
On Friday Qantas had said it stood “ready to commence operations on Perth-Derby at short notice”, and that it will begin flights on the Brisbane-Port Hedland route from March 13.
