Nexus Airlines moves to suspend Kimberley flight route from September 2025
The final flight from Broome to Darwin via Kununurra will depart on the morning of September 1, with Nexus Airlines to give out full refunds to all passengers booked to travel after that flight.
Nexus Airlines managing director Michael McConachy cited increased competition from Airnorth, a Northern Territory‑based regional carrier owned by Bristow Helicopters Australia and a subsidiary of the US‑based Bristow Group, for the closure of the route.
'The additional capacity they introduced, and aggressive pricing have made it financially unsustainable to continue on this route and, despite Nexus taking a significant share of the market, ultimately they have deeper pockets and were prepared to continue to fly with unused capacity,' he said.
'It's a difficult business decision, especially as someone who is deeply passionate about tourism and regional growth in the Kimberley, but I remain hopeful we'll return to this route in the near future.'
Mr McConachy said it was a 'disappointing' decision to make.
'I'm proud of what we've achieved. Nexus Airlines was created to improve air connectivity across regional WA,' he said.
'Having now lived in the Kimberley for nearly two decades, I witnessed firsthand how poor reliability and high fares contributed to market failure on this route, which was a key motivation in bringing Nexus Airlines to the Kimberley.'
Other Nexus routes including between Perth and Geraldton, and between Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome continue to perform well and will remain unaffected by this network change, according to Nexus.
Mr McConachy backed recent calls from the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley for the State Government to regulate the sector in the region.
'Regulation through a competitive tender process, where one airline is granted exclusive access to a route, can be a vital tool in protecting essential air services,' he said.
'In regions where passenger volumes are too low to support multiple operators, this approach helps ensure communities continue to benefit from dependable, affordable air travel. It's about safeguarding access to tourism, education, health care and local business.
'My hope is that the Kimberley route will be fully regulated. This would allow fares, frequency and service levels to be set and monitored by the State Government, delivering the best outcome for the towns and regions along the route.'
It comes after Qantas decided to shutter Jetstar Asia in June — taking Broome's short-lived Singapore flight connection with it, which was the first international flight route for Broome International Airport in years.
With the route lasting less than a year before being axed, Broome International Airport chief executive Craig Shaw described the move as 'disappointing' and a blow to the region's aspirations of boosting international tourism and business at the time.
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