Virgin Australia Still Can't Fly to Roma Airport

The Roma Western Star newspaper reports that State Transport Minister Scott Emerson's decision to keep the Brisbane-Roma-Charleville air passenger route regulated is keeping Virgin Australia out of the lucrative
Roma market.

File photo

The route will continue to be regulated with QantasLink the service provider until the route is re-tendered in 2015.

Virgin Australia corporate communications advisor Luke O'Donnell said Roma was one of Australia's busiest regional airports and is the fastest growing.

"We believe services from Brisbane to Roma are capable of sustaining competition and deregulation would produce benefits for tourism and the community," Mr O'Donnell said.

"We have indicated a strong interest to the government to operate to Roma."

A Virgin Australia ATR departing Rockhampton Airport  (File photo)

Maranoa Mayor Robert Loughnan and Cr Joy Denton, portfolio chair for airports, welcomed the decision to keep the Brisbane-Roma-Charleville air passenger route regulated.

Cr Denton said the council believed regulation of this route was important to ensure the Maranoa continued to receive access to this essential service.

Cr Loughnan said he was surprised and pleased by the decision and noted that passenger numbers through the Roma Airport continue to climb.