As India and Australia deepen their strategic partnership across trade, education, and people-to-people ties, the absence of direct air connectivity between India and Perth, Western Australia remains a significant structural gap. BRIEF is undertaking a focused research and advocacy initiative to build an evidence-based case for establishing a direct air route between Perth and key Indian cities.

Western Australia has a large and growing Indian diaspora, rising inbound tourism from India, and deepening bilateral trade under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). Despite this momentum, Indian travellers and businesses continue to rely on connecting flights through Southeast Asian or Middle Eastern hubs, adding hours to journeys and friction to what should be a natural corridor. A direct Perth–India route would be the shortest air link between the two countries, with significant implications for tourism, education, cargo, and business travel.

The initiative combines secondary research with on-the-ground stakeholder engagement in India and Western Australia across relevant industries such as the government, airlines, businesses and passengers.

The findings, presented as a policy that maps economic rationale, identifies priority Indian markets for route viability, and positions Perth as a compelling destination for Indian students, tourists, and businesses.