AAA CEO Caroline Wilkie said a deeper look into how domestic airfares are set was urgently needed to bring an end to the regional airfare rip off.

"People living in regional Queensland should not have to pay more to get to Brisbane than the cost of a flight to South East Asia," Ms Wilkie said.

"People living and working in the regions are facing significant financial challenges when they need to travel for medical appointments, boarding school or family events. They've been left high and dry by airlines like Qantas, which is slugging regional residents $800 for a 'discount' return fare to their nearest capital city."

AAA said the recent senate committee inquiry into regional airfares was frustrated by a lack of transparency by domestic airlines and the committee called for an open and transparent approach to how regional airfares are determined in its report.

The committee recommended a standalone public inquiry on the determinants of domestic airfares on regional routes, and the AAA supports that position.

"Local residents have a right to know what they're paying for when they book a flight and the fact airlines don't want to tell them should be cause for concern," Ms Wilkie said.

"The airlines must be compelled to show us why a 'discount' return flight from Mount Isa to Brisbane can really cost as much as $800. Real solutions for regional Australia can only be found when airlines finally lift the veil of secrecy."

State member for Traeger Robbie Katter has also called on the state government to install pricing software to monitor the airlines.

AAA said the airlines assertion that airport charges was part of the problem was not borne out by the senate committee report which found regional airport charges "constitute a reasonably small portion of airfares".

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