Alternate tag a boon to airport

The Busselton Margaret River Airport will have the potential for international visitors after its successful bid to become an alternate international airport.

The application has been approved by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities.

The approval has the potential to deliver significant benefits to international airlines flying to Perth, as most international flights need to carry additional fuel to allow for diversion to either Adelaide or Exmouth.

Busselton’s proximity to Perth means that, in the case of a flight diversion, airlines will be able to return to Perth quickly.

“The designation of our airport as an international alternate is an endorsement of the quality of the infrastructure constructed during the recent redevelopment,” Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said.