New data released by the Federal Government shows a 25 per cent increase in traffic through the nation’s regional airports since 2007.

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ (BITRE) Air transport service trends in regional Australia shows that 24.4 million passengers passed through regional airports in Australia in 2012, with the number of airports receiving services increasing to 171.

Other BITRE findings showed:

  • There were more than 9 million passengers going through airports in inner and outer regional Australia in 2012
  • Air travel between major cities and our regions accounts for more than 90 per cent of the entire regional aviation market.
  • In 2012 there were 176 active air routes between regional areas and major cities, and around 300 air routes between regional areas.
  • The Karratha – Perth route experienced the largest growth of all Australian regional routes

“The industry has consistently shown it can adapt to the growing reliance of Australians on aviation both for business and leisure as well as continuing its important role in delivering vital services to regional communities,” Federal Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

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