The inquiry into regional airfares is coming to town on April 6.

The inquiry into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities will visit both Alice Springs and Darwin.

NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy was pleased many people had made submissions. Reasonable access to air services is an important issue for everyone in the Territory and I am very interested to hear the ideas that will be put forward, she said.

Submissions closed on February 5. Namatjira MP Chansey Paech said a number of people had missed out on making submissions.

The consultation period run by the Senate was a lengthy time. However, in the period it was run over Christmas, lots of Centralians were away, so it does raise some concern, he said.

I would have liked to have seen more submissions from Centralians because it is such a big and important issue. Joining Mr Paech in making submissions were Tourism Central Australia, Araluen MP Robyn Lambley, Alice Springs Town Council and the Isolated Childrens Parents Association.

The association detailed challenges faced by students travelling to and from boarding schools, particularly that peak travel prices are unavoidable because of the times they need to travel.

Some members have paid in excess of $1150 for a oneway flight for their student to get back to school, it said. Mr Paech addressed issues of remote health.

Having been in a situation recently where I had loved ones in hospital in South Australia, I know the financial burden put on all my family to commute down, he said.

Its putting emotional pressure on because they have to get there, but then they had to deal with the financial implications because you have to find money to get there and then pay it back.

Mr Paech said many of his constituents were driving to Ayers Rock to catch flights, which were often cheaper than out of Alice Springs.

Its about finding a medium place where its affordable for Territorians, but its not putting airlines in a position where theyre running at a loss, he said.

They need to be commercially viable businesses, but they need to offer realistic fares.

Centralian Advocate, 20 February 2018