Alliance Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline=Alliance Airlines
logo_size=305
IATA=QQ
ICAO=UTY
callsign=UNITY
founded=31 July 2002
hubs=Brisbane Airport
Townsville Airport
Perth Airport
Adelaide Airport
headquarters=Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
key_people= Steve Padgett (Chairman)
Scott McMillan (Managing Director)
fleet_size=16 [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=&regholdin=&regopin=Alliance+Airlines&serialin=&num_results=20&Search=Search CASA Civil Aircraft Register search, using "Alliance Airlines" as the search parameter.] Search conducted 24 September 2008.]
destinations=2 scheduled (see text)
website= http://www.allianceairlines.com.au

Alliance Airlines is an charter airline based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It specialises in long-term contract charter to the mining and resources industry and governments in Australia, as well as ad-hoc charter operations and aircraft leasing to international airlines. Its main base is in Brisbane Airport, with hubs at Townsville Airport, Perth Airport and Adelaide Airport. [http://www.allianceairlines.com.au/home.htm Alliance Airlines website] ]

History

Alliance was established and started operations in early August 2002 when Brisbane-based Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the assets of the dormant Flight West Airlines, [ [http://www.asiatraveltips.com/travelnews2002/31July2002Alliance.shtml Asia Travel Tips] ] which had been established on 25 May 1987 and was liquidated in 2001. The airline is wholly owned by Queensland Airline Holdingscite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 73 | date= 2007-03-27] and has 219 employees. [http://www.allianceairlines.com.au/20070212%20Media%20Release.pdf Alliance Airlines Media Release] ]

Alliance had wet-leasing contracts with Norfolk Jet Express until that airline was liquidated on 4 June 2005. [http://www.allianceairlines.com.au/charter.htm#longterm About Alliance Charter] ] For the first week after liquidation Alliance were used for services, but Qantas soon took over these services, using Air Nauru (now "Our Airline") aircraft. Alliance currently holds dry-leasing contracts with Air Niugini for Papua New Guinea and North Queensland services. [http://www.perthairport.com/getfile.aspx?Type=document&ID=6062&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=1275 Perth Airport Welcomes Alliance Airlines] ]

Destinations

Alliance operates contract charter flights primarily for the resources sector, usually into outback areas where skilled labour is in short supply.

Alliance Airlines currently flies from Townsville on behalf of Incitec Pivot - Southern Cross Operations (to Phosphate Hill), Zinifex (to Century Mine), Alcan (to Gove), Xstrata (to Cloncurry, Queensland), BHP Billiton (to Cannington Mine) and CopperCo Ltd (to Mount Isa, Queensland).

Alliance Airlines currently flies from Brisbane on behalf of Alcan (to Gove), Byrnecut (to Telfer, Western Australia) and Santos Ltd. (to Ballera).

In November 2006, Alliance Airlines commenced charter services from Perth to BHP Billiton's "Nickel West" operations at Mount Keith and Leinster, Western Australia.

In June 2007, Alliance commenced operations between Adelaide and Olympic Dam, South Australia using two Fokker 50 aircraft in support of BHP Billiton's [fly-in/fly-out rosters. This service was originally marketed by Virgin Blue, but Qantas has taken over marketing of the service since December 2007, [ [http://extranet.allianceairlines.com.au/alliance/news/en/11/106/article.aspx Important Notice to Passengers - ADELAIDE - OLYMPIC DAM route] ] and seats can be purchased by the general public. [http://www.etravelblackboard.com/index.asp?id=63461&nav=2 Contract to service Olympic Dam no longer with Rex] ] Since 2007 a third Fokker 50 has been based at Adelaide to operate an Adelaide to Prominent Hill charter service in support of Oxiana's mine there.

Charter services also extend from Brisbane to Canberra and the Australian Defence Forces use Alliance for charter flights to East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

Fleet

As of September 2008 the Alliance Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:

* 11 Fokker 100
* 5 Fokker 50

References

External links

* [http://www.allianceairlines.com.au/ Alliance Airlines]

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