BREAKING NEWS: Qantas to buy WA charter airline

[jakeseven7]

Qantas is hoping to extend its presence in the lucrative charter flight market in Western Australia by acquiring one of the major airlines offering services to fly-in, fly-out mining sector workers, The Australian Financial Review reports.

Qantas to buy WA charter airline: report | News | Business Spectator




This has been rumoured for a while but still pretty big news! Adds 9 aircraft - does anyone know much about this mob, what aircraft they operate etc? EDIT: Found myself, Fokker 100's and Embraer turbo props:

Charter Aircraft Flights Perth WA - Network Aviation

 

[thewinchester]

does anyone know much about this mob, what aircraft they operate etc? EDIT: Found myself, Fokker 100's and Embraer turbo props

If you want to get really specific, they operate with 6 × Embraer EMB-120 ER Brasilia first added to the fleet in 2000, and 2 × Fokker F28 Mk 0100 added in 2008.

Company started off with Cessna 441 Conquests and Beech 200s when they first setup in 1998.

Network are a bit of a workhorse out of PER. They operate from the GA aprons currently occupied by the likes of Skippers and Cobram, and I'll normally see at least one to two of their birds a day when arrivals are on RWY 24 tracking in from the Swan River.

Their Brasilias are very 'common', with a stock standard white body paintjob. It's the Fokker's which really stand out with a full silver body not too dissimilar to AA.

Also of interest is that they've had a former US Airways Brasilia sitting on their ramp for two years now. Can't find a photo to hand of when it was first delivered, when it still had the US titles and registration on it. I suspect they purchased it as a sacrificial lamb.

 

[docjames]

Will be interesting to see where QF go with this.

- A rebrand "Qantas Charters" or similar?
- Fleet rationalisation (place for some ex-mainline Q300s/Link F100s)?
- Expand into Qld / other states?

Or just leave as independant company self-managed? (This last one seems unlikely )

 

[markis10]

Their Brasilias are very 'common', with a stock standard white body paintjob. It's the Fokker's which really stand out with a full silver body not too dissimilar to AA.

Also of interest is that they've had a former US Airways Brasilia sitting on their ramp for two years now. Can't find a photo to hand of when it was first delivered, when it still had the US titles and registration on it. I suspect they purchased it as a sacrificial lamb.

All the FK100s have come from US Air, not the Brasilia fleet as they have been Delta/Flight West or Skywest USA sourced. US Air never operated any Brasilia aircraft.

 

[samh004]

Will be interesting to see where QF go with this.

- A rebrand "Qantas Charters" or similar?
- Fleet rationalisation (place for some ex-mainline Q300s/Link F100s)?
- Expand into Qld / other states?

Or just leave as independant company self-managed? (This last one seems unlikely )

I was wondering the same thing, though assume that will be in the future, not any time soon.

 

[markis10]

I was wondering the same thing, though assume that will be in the future, not any time soon.

They now have a "sunstate" in WA to provide a home to the 5 x Q400s on order .

 

[pauly7]

Interesting... Strategic move.

Wonder if they'll assimilate into the QFLink umbrella and throw some Dash 8's at the operation.

I'd imagine they'll keep the Fokkers as they can get into places the 737/717s cant....

So many hypotheticals!!