Two-thirds of Woodside's travel requirements is on the Perth-Karratha route to service the North West Shelf Venture's offshore production and onshore gas processing facilities. Woodside also has regular travel requirements to service its offshore production facilities in the Northern Territory.

Woodside Shared Services Director Andrew Maiden said the agreement would support the efficient management of the company's existing operations and pursuit of future business opportunities throughout Australia and overseas.

"This agreement is a positive outcome for regional Western Australia and it supports a regular and reliable service for the Karratha community," Mr Maiden said.

Qantas Regional General Manager Ian Gay said that Qantas was delighted to have the opportunity of forging a long-term relationship with Woodside.

"We are looking forward to working with Woodside and the Karratha community to provide the best possible service to residents of the North-West and this is supported by the recent introduction of Boeing 737 aircraft and flight schedules to Karratha," Mr Gay said.

He said Qantas is also now in a position to strengthen its regular services to other regional routes such as Broome and Kalgoorlie.

Woodside has been using regular Qantas flights and Skywest for air charter services since the collapse of Ansett in September 2001.