Australian air Express

Infobox Airline
airline=Australian air Express

logo_size=
IATA=QF/XM
ICAO=QFA/XME
callsign=Qantas/JetEx
founded=1992
hubs=Melbourne Airport
headquarters=Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
key_people=
parent= Qantas, Australia Post
fleet_size= 8 (+1 order)
destinations= 15
website=http://www.aae.com.au

Australian air Express is a cargo airline based in Melbourne, Australia. It operates freight-only services within Australia using leased Qantas, National Jet Systems, and Pel-Air aircraft. Its main base is Melbourne Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | pages= 80-81 | date= 2007-03-27]

History

Australian air Express was established in early 1992 and started operations on 1 August 1992. It was established as a joint venture between Australia's largest airline Qantas (50%), and government-owned postal provider Australia Post (50%). AaE use freight capacity on Qantas domestic flights and also dedicated cargo services operated on their behalf by several different companies, principally using Boeing 727 aircraft. Australian air Express began the phasing out of the 727s in September 2006 and they are being replaced by specially-converted Boeing 737 aircraft that were formerly part of the Qantas fleet, operated by Qantas subsidiary Express Freighters Australia. The first Boeing 737 entered service on 24 October 2006.Reid, Gordon. "Freighter Farewell", "Australian Aviation" magazine No. 239, June 2007, p70-71. Phantom Media Pty. Ltd., Fyshwick ACT. ISSN 0813-0876]

Operations

AaE flight operations are somewhat complex and varied. "Next Flight" services use space on the next available scheduled Qantas passenger flights. Items carried for Overnight or later delivery are flown on aircraft operated by Express Freighters Australia, National Jet Systems subsidiary National Jet Express, and Pel-Air. Due to the three different service providers, AaE flights operate using different flight numbers and callsigns. The Express Freighters Australia Boeing 737s use Qantas flight numbers and callsigns as the ground handling is done by Qantas/Express Freighters, [ [http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/SACL/default.htm Sydney Airport website] retrieved 2008-02-05.] while National Jet Express uses the callsign "Jetex" and uses the IATA designator XM for its flight numbers (and uses the ICAO designator XME). Pel-Air flights also use XM flight numbers but have no specific callsigns.

Destinations

Australian air Express currently operates freight services to the following domestic scheduled destinations (at February 2008): [ [http://www.aae.com.au/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-23//27_read-35 Australian air Express locations] retrieved 2008-02-05.]

;Australian Capital Territory
* Canberra Airport

;New South Wales
* Newcastle Airport (Williamtown)
* Sydney Airport

;Northern Territory
* Ayers Rock Airport
* Darwin International Airport
* Gove Airport

;Queensland
* Brisbane Airport
* Cairns Airport
* Gold Coast Airport
* Mackay Airport
* Rockhampton Airport
* Townsville Airport

;South Australia
* Adelaide Airport

;Tasmania
* Hobart Airport
* Launceston Airport

;Victoria
* Geelong Airport
* Melbourne Airport Main Hub

;Western Australia
* Perth Airport

Fleet

The following aircraft are currently in the Australian air Express fleet (at September 2008): [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/ML580965-07.pdf National Jet Express AOC] retrieved 2008-09-06.] [ [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/SY503021-30.pdf Express Freighters Australia AOC] retrieved 2008-09-06.] [ [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=&regholdin=&regopin=National+Jet+Express&serialin=&num_results=10&Search=Search Australian civil aircraft register search, using "National Jet Express" as the search parameter.] Search conducted 6 September 2008.]

ee also

*Qantas
*Australia Post
*Cargo airlines

External links

* [http://www.aae.com.au/ Australian air Express]
* [http://www.qantas.com/ Qantas]
* [http://www.australiapost.com.au/ Australia Post]

References