State Government welcomes regional WA shortlist for new Qantas pilot academy

• Regional WA being considered as a location for new Qantas Group Pilot Academy
• Busselton one of nine regional cities across Australia to be shortlisted for the academy
• Significant regional development opportunity for Western Australia 

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Tourism Minister Paul Papalia today welcomed Qantas' announcement to consider Busselton as a regional location for its new Qantas Group Pilot Academy.

Qantas will invest up to $20 million to establish a pilot training academy in regional Australia by 2019.

The Western Australian Government was invited to submit a bid to locate the academy in regional WA, and provided a list of six proposed locations. 

More than 60 regional cities across Australia put forward a proposal, of which nine were shortlisted.

The Western Australian Government recognises the opportunity to secure the academy and deliver an economic boost to the region, while building on the State's advantages including climate, time zone with Asia, space, existing infrastructure and supportive industries to develop a pilot training hub in WA.

The Western Australian Government has fostered a strong working relationship with Qantas, working together on marketing and route development for the London-Perth direct service and the Perth-Broome initiative.

Qantas' proposed academy would initially train at least 100 pilots per year from 2019.  Qantas intends to scale the academy to up to 500 places per year on a fee-for-service basis for other airlines.

The Western Australian Pilot Training Taskforce established by the McGowan Government will now work closely with Qantas to demonstrate Busselton's comparative advantages for pilot training.

A final decision on the academy's location is due to be made in the third quarter of this year.

Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

"This shortlisting is a big vote of confidence in Busselton.

"It recognises not only the great blue skies but also the aviation infrastructure and the lifestyle on offer in the region.

"We will work with the City of Busselton along with the City of Bunbury and the Shire of Manjimup to give us the best opportunity to win the academy for WA."

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

"I welcome Qantas' announcement to consider Busselton as the location for its new Qantas Group Pilot Academy.

"Busselton is a highly attractive location for pilot training in terms of weather, abundance of space and existing infrastructure.

"The McGowan Government has been working hard to consolidate our recent success in building WA's role as the western gateway to Australia, Asia and beyond - and a pilot training school would be a strong step forward for WA as an aviation transport hub."

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"WA would be the perfect home for the Qantas Group Pilot Academy and we will be working hard as a State Government to secure it.

"We are committed to ensuring that regional Western Australians have access to air services."

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6200

Tourism Minister's office - 6552 5600

Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500