Aviation: Connecting Communities and Driving Growth

Connecting communities and driving growth

Aviation is a vital part of Australia’s transport system, linking cities, regions, and remote communities across vast distances. For many regional areas, air travel is not just convenient—it is essential. It provides access to health care, education, and emergency services, and ensures businesses can connect with markets and suppliers. Without aviation, many communities would face isolation and reduced economic opportunity.

Regional aviation plays a critical role in supporting social inclusion and economic resilience. It enables tourism, facilitates freight movement, and underpins industries that rely on fast, reliable transport. At NineSquared, we specialise in helping governments and industry navigate the complexities of regional aviation markets. Our expertise ensures that regulated air services remain viable, affordable, and responsive to community needs, while supporting broader economic and social objectives.

The Importance of Aviation

Aviation is more than a mode of transport—it is a lifeline for regional and remote communities. It connects people to essential services, supports local businesses, and drives regional development. For many Australians, air travel is the only practical way to access health care, education, and employment opportunities. It also plays a vital role in emergency response and freight logistics, ensuring critical goods and services reach those who need them most.

However, regional aviation faces unique challenges. Routes often operate in thin markets with limited demand, making financial sustainability difficult without government support. Rising costs, technological change, and environmental pressures add further complexity. Decision-makers must balance affordability for passengers, service reliability for communities, and sustainability for operators—all within a framework that delivers value for taxpayers.

Robust economic analysis and evidence-based policy are essential to address these challenges. NineSquared provides the insights and tools needed to design effective fare structures, evaluate subsidy programs, and assess the impacts of regulatory changes. Our work ensures that regional aviation continues to deliver connectivity, opportunity, and resilience for communities across Australia.

How we help

Our expertise and previous experience is strongly focussed on the regional aviation sector in Australia across policy setting, pricing, market assessments and infrastructure decision making. Our services include:

• Regulatory and Policy Analysis
  We assess the impacts of regulatory frameworks and policy changes, helping governments and operators design systems that promote efficiency, equity, and resilience to regional and remote communities
• Market assessments
  We can analyse market trends and socio-economic conditions to advise on planning for future regional aviation investments, policies and strategies.
• Cost benefit analysis of aviation related infrastructure and service enhancements
  We conduct cost-benefit analyses for airport developments, aviation hubs, and related infrastructure projects as well as for new service proposals, providing clear evidence to support funding and prioritisation.
• Data and Insights on Airfares
  NineSquared maintains database of regional airfares, offering unique insights into pricing trends in the regional aviation sector. Combined with our analytical tools, this data helps clients make informed, timely decisions.
• Review of business case and feasibility studies
  NineSquared can undertake independent reviews of business cases and feasibility studies for funding agencies and organisations being asked to invest or approve new initiatives in the regional aviation market.