As the airline prepares to expand into jet operations from October and in the wake of Rex entering voluntary administration, Skytrans chief executive officer Alan Milne (left) says it is essential regional operations remain viable and “stand on their own two feet”. Photo: Supplied.
They will not be used on Cape York and Torres Strait routes, but Airbus jets with Skytrans livery will be a common sight in the skies from October as the airline embarks on an ambitious expansion plan its boss says will transform the profile of the company.
After being purchased by Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) service operator, earlier in the year, Skytrans has announced its growth plan will involve the commencement of local ACMI services in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the addition of Airbus A319 jets to its fleet.
Skytrans chief executive officer Alan Milne told Cape York Weekly it was anticipated the introduction of ACMI services would provide a benefit to other airlines operating in the region while acting as the catalyst for significant organisational growth.
“The introduction of ACMI services will provide much-needed surge capacity for the airlines operating in this region, for example, times when airlines are short on capacity due to the late delivery of new aircraft, unplanned maintenance events or even crew shortages,” he said.
“This will see Skytrans grow from a small regional airline to a high capacity jet operation in a very short space of time.”
While runways across Cape York and the Torres Strait on existing routes are too short to accommodate the new A319s, Mr Milne said remote customers would not be forgotten as the airline added larger aircraft to its fleet.
“The A319 will not be used on the Cape services, as the airports around the Cape are not capable of supporting such a large aircraft,” he explained.
“Skytrans will continue to grow the turboprop operation around the Cape and the Torres Strait, including freight capacity.
“The A319 aircraft being introduced to Skytrans have always been dedicated passenger aircraft [and] we will also be looking at dedicated freighter aircraft if there is a market for that.”
Skytrans’ ambitious growth strategy comes on the back of the recent collapse of regional operator Rex, which entered voluntary administration on 30 July after an unsuccessful expansion bid that aimed to compete against Qantas and Virgin Australia on metropolitan routes.
At its first creditor’s meeting earlier this month, it was revealed Rex’s debts totalled about half a billion dollars owed to 4,800 creditors.
Mr Milne was not directly critical of the failed Rex growth plan, however, he said he believed it was “essential” regional operators remained independently viable to service communities on remote routes like those on Cape York.
“It is essential that regional airlines such as Skytrans remain viable to operate these routes,” he said.
“Skytrans has done so for many years without government assistance, and all airlines should be encouraged to stand on their own two feet.”
