Qantas regional general manager Western Australia Ian Gay said the additional services were a response to increased demand from the mining and energy sectors, and would see the airline base an additional B 737-800 aircraft in Western Australia.

The North West schedule changes will be:  Seven new Perth-Karratha return services, increasing from 41 to 48 per week and adding 2,352 seats on the route each week;

two additional Perth-Paraburdoo return services, increasing from 19 to 21 per week and adding 460 seats on the route each week; and two additional Perth-Port Hedland return services, increasing from 23 to 25 per week and adding 460 seats a week.