Foot-and-mouth disease set to delay return of Port Hedland to Bali flights due to biosecurity concerns
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Residents in Western Australia's north will have to wait until at least next year for the return of direct flights to Bali, amid concern about foot-and-mouth disease.
Direct flights between Port Hedland and Bali were due to resume in November, but Virgin scrapped those plans mid-year, blaming subdued demand.
Pilbara residents have been eagerly waiting for a new date to be set, but Port Hedland International Airport chief executive Dave Batic said it would likely be pushed back due to the biosecurity risk posed by foot-and-mouth disease.
"We as a regional airport have to be mindful of managing these risks and that may mean as a result the relaunch of Bali flights may be delayed.
"The problem with foot-and-mouth is it's more difficult to manage, particularly in a regional area, because we don't have the resources to fully manage inspections of aircraft and passengers coming back into the country."
A widespread outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease would bring farm exports to a standstill at an estimated cost of $80 billion over a decade.
Australia has banned individuals importing meat from countries that have the disease.
Mr Batic said the management of the disease would impact when direct flights to Bali could resume.
"I think the government will be very cautious as to allowing additional aircraft into ports around Australia," he said.
"In another six to 12 months, with the management of foot-and-mouth disease, we'll be in a better position to hopefully return to Bali services."
With flight schedules locked in months in advance, the next opportunity to relaunch the Port Hedland to Bali route is likely to be mid next year.
"The northern winter, which is upcoming now, the schedule is fairly tight, locked in, there's really no capacity for additional flights," Mr Batic said.
"The next opportunity is the northern summer which is the middle of next year.
"So we'll continue discussions and negotiations with various airlines and I'm hoping next year we'll see the resumption of services to Bali and the east coast as well."
Port Hedland resident Lauren Morphett booked a family holiday to Bali the day before Virgin cancelled the Port Hedland to Bali flights.
"I felt devastated," she said.
"When these flights were put back on, everybody was so excited and then it's just another let down.
"It's not only Hedland residents that are using those flights, it's people from Karratha, Newman and Broome who are driving here to get that international flight."
The family has holidayed extensively in WA, but said it was costly and they wanted to return to Bali.
"We're still going on the trip but we're having to fly via Perth and book accommodation either side of that to get the flight times that we need and that comes at a cost of around$ 2500 to $3000 dollars," Ms Morphett said.
She said delays to the resumption of Port Hedland to Bali flights affected the livability of the Pilbara town.
"There are so many individuals and families working here and relocating here from all over Australia and this Hedland to Bali flight was seen as such an easy and convenient, low cost travel option for everyone," she said.
"Living regionally, we do get hit with higher costs of everything and it's just really unfortunate that we don't have this option anymore.
"I do feel that we deserve to have it put back on considering how much Port Hedland contributes to the economy."
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