Australian regional airline Aviair has launched a new brand called Nexus Airlines to operate its flights across largely rural areas in northern Western Australia. 

Nexus will fly routes under the Inter-Regional Flight Network (IRFN), which is supported by the WA state government and will be based at Geraldton (425km north of Perth) and Broome in the north of the state. 

The new hubs will improve journey times and customer experience, as direct flights will cut out the need to travel south to Perth before making the onward journey. 

WA state Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the expansion of the IRFN was a “historic” moment. 

Nexus will operate a fleet of Dash 8 Q400 planes, which the company said will significantly reduce its carbon emissions. 

“The aircraft also offers the lowest fuel consumption per passenger seat of any turboprop in the industry, while maintaining jet-like speed, which means there is a 30% to 40% reduction in carbon emissions,” Nexus said on its website. 

The fleet will carry Nexus’ new logo, designed by Waringarri Art Centre senior artists and Miriwoong elders Peggy Griffiths Madij and Ben Ward Galmirrl, who are Australian Aboriginal artists from the Kimberly region of Western Australia. 

The airline explained: “Ward’s design represents the many interconnecting life-giving rivers, creeks and waterholes that are an essential link for people not only across the Kimberley but throughout Western Australia with the underground streams creating life-giving waterholes throughout much of the state.

“Griffiths’ design portrays the body paint designs applied during dance and celebratory performance. Traditional performance brings her people together and connects families and communities.”