SkyAirWorld

Infobox Airline
airline = SkyAirWorld


image_size = 250
IATA = S9
ICAO = SYW
callsign = SKY AIR
founded = 2006
ceased =
hubs =
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
subsidiaries =
fleet_size = 4
destinations =
parent =
company_slogan =
headquarters = Brisbane, Australia
key_people = David Charlton, CEO
website = [http://www.skyairworld.com/ www.skyairworld.com]

SkyAirWorld is a scheduled and charter airline based in Brisbane, Australia. It provides a range of services including charter work for the Australian military, and has also provided wet-leases for other carriers, particularly airlines in the South Pacific.

History

SkyAirWorld first came to the attention of the aviation industry in Australia when it issued a Press Release on 2 October 2006 announcing its intentions. [http://www.skyairworld.com/Media/Press-2-10-06.pdf Australia's Newest Airline] retrieved 2007-10-13.] dead link|date=August 2008 The company registered its first aircraft, a second-hand ERJ 170 on lease, on 8 March 2007; it arrived at Brisbane from Hong Kong the following week. The aircraft was promptly repainted in Solomon Airlines colours after an agreement was reached between the two airlines that SkyAirWorld would operate on behalf of Solomon's [ [http://www.skyairworld.com/Media/Solomon-Airlines-replace.pdf Press Release] announcing the relationship between SkyAirWorld and Solomon Airlines retrieved 2007-10-13.] dead link|date=August 2008 and after a delay in SkyAirWorld obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the aircraft commenced operations between Brisbane and Honiara and Honiara and Nadi International Airport in mid-May 2007. [ [http://www.skyairworld.com/Media/20070518-SKYAIRWORLD-RECEIVES-AOC.pdf SkyAirWorld Receives its AOC] retrieved 2007-10-13.] dead link|date=August 2008

The relationship proved to be short-lived, being suspended in August 2007 with each party blaming the other; SkyAirWorld claimed that it was not being paid, [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Solomon-Airlines-pulls-jet-from-route/2007/08/14/1186857495991.html Solomon Airlines pulls jet from route] retrieved 2007-10-13.] while from the other camp came claims that the ERJ 170 was inadequate to the task [ [http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/14793 ‘Broke’ Solair Loses Plane] retrieved 2007-10-13.] as it lacked adequate load-carrying capacity. The two parties attempted to resolve the dispute but on 3 October 2007 it was announced by the Solomon Islands Government that the agreement had been terminated. [ [http://www.pmc.gov.sb/?q=node/1549 Solomon Islands Government Press Release] retrieved 2007-10-13.] The aircraft was subsequently partially repainted to remove the Solomon's titles.

On 13 November 2007 it was reported in Solomon Islands media that a new airline would commence services between Brisbane and Honiara by the end of the month, using an ERJ 170 until an ERJ-190 became available early in 2008. The airline, to be called Coral Sea Express, was reported to have secured a partnership with a Solomons Islands-based company. The Managing director of Coral Sea Express was reported to be David Charlton, [http://www.solomonstarnews.com/?q=node/15861 New airline to begin services to Honiara] , "Solomon Star" Newspaper online, retrieved 2007-11-13.] who is also the CEO of SkyAirWorld.dead link|date=August 2008 However this did not eventuate, and on 10 January 2008 SkyAirWorld announced that it would enter a joint venture with Indonesian airline Lion Air (to be called Lion Air Australia), to enable Lion Air to enter the Australian Domestic airline market, and to serve routes between Australia and Indonesia. [http://www.skyairworld.com/News/News.aspx SkyAirWorld News web page] retrieved 2008-01-11.] dead link|date=August 2008 Australian media outlets reported that Lion Air was taking a 49% interest in SkyAirWorld under the joint venture.Easdown, Geoff. [http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,23036467-462,00.html "Lion Air to establish domestic joint venture" "News Corporation" Australian news website] retrieved 2008-01-11.] [ [http://business.smh.com.au/indonesian-airline-wants-to-fly-here/20080111-1 "Indonesian airline wants to fly here" "Sydney Morning Herald" online] retrieved 2008-01-11.]

Services

Since the termination of the agreement with Solomon Airlines, SkyAirWorld had initially limited itself to charter services with the ERJ 170 based in Perth, Western Australia. The Aircraft was originally chartered by Rio Tinto as a result of the possible National Jet Systems Pilot Strike. It has also been used by National Jet as a replacement aircraft to fly to Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. Following the delivery of the first ERJ 190, the airline re-entered the field of scheduled services, operating on behalf of Air Niugini on services to and from Sydney. It then commenced operating on its own behalf between Brisbane and Honiara, and following regulatory aproval in late July, launched services between Brisbane and Cairns via Cloncurry in August 2008, flying three times a week. [ [http://www.skyairworld.com/Information/Schedule.aspx SkyAirWorld Flight Schedule page] retrieved 2008-08-27.]

Fleet

As of August 2008 the SkyAirWorld fleet consists of: [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=&regholdin=&regopin=SKY+AIR+WORLD+PTY+LIMITED&serialin=&num_results=10&Search=Search CASA Australian civil aircraft register] search conducted 2008-08-27] [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/1-401EY-05.pdf SkyAirWorld AOC] retrieved 2008-08-27.]

*2 Embraer 145
*1 Embraer 170
*1 Embraer 190

On 12 October 2007, in the weekly "Aviation News" section of The Australian newspaper, it was announced that SkyAirWorld will be taking delivery of two ERJ 145s and an ERJ 190 during 2008. Another ERJ 190 had already been ordered, so by the end of 2008 the Embraer fleet will number five aircraft. The Lion Air Australia joint venture will initially have six Boeing 737 900ER aircraft.

References

External links

* [http://www.skyairworld.com/ SkyAirWorld]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=SKR&al_op=1 SkyAirWorld Fleet]

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