David Eyre 
9V-MGQ Boeing 737-8SA (MSN 44233/6121) of SilkAir, at Broome Airport - 22 May 2018. Photo via SilkAir. The first Singapore - Broome service, flight MI892, taxying in to a water cannon salute from fire crews around 2:30pm.
22 May 2018 © David Eyre
SilkAir celebrated the first of four charter flights from Singapore to Broome, Western Australia, on 22 May 2018, when flight MI892, operated by Boeing 737-800 9V-MGQ, touched down around 2:30pm.
Passengers received goodie bags from the crew and a water cannon salute from airport fire crews as the aircraft taxied in at Broome.
The flight from Singapore took just over four hours, compared with 10.5 hours if travellers transit through Perth Airport .
The return flight departed Broome at 4pm.
The flights operated on 22 May, 26 May, 29 May and 2 June 2018, the dates chosen to coincide with specific events, including school holidays in Singapore and the Cable Beach Polo event in Broome.
Travellers were able to book holiday packages to explore the region with an itinerary for four, seven or 11 nights, depending on their preferences and budget.
The flights arose from a partnership between Broome International Airport, Tourism WA, Tourism Australia, Australia’s North West Tourism Board and the Shire of Broome, which have contributed $90,000.
This is believed to be the first international scheduled passenger flight in almost 20 years.
SilkAir is the regional wing of Singapore Airlines and the Boeing 737-800 has 12 business and 150 economy seats.
Broome Shire president Harold Tracey hoped the flights would become a permanent service, so the town could develop as a gateway for passengers travelling to and from Asia.
