Skytrans Cease Operations

[Chris W]

The Queensland Government awarded these contracts based heavily on the financial stability of the company. You have to remember that these tenders came up in May of this year, hot on the heels of the Brindabella collapse. The government were very public in saying that they did not want a similar situation to arise as seen in NSW with Narrabri, Cobar and Moree.

Rex has operated subsidised routes in Queensland now for 5 years with success. It remains to be seen if they have bitten off more than they can chew. If something does have to give though, it will not be in Queensland.

[David Knudsen]

Originally Posted by Mick F

Exactly. Another Australian company failing because of contracts going to overseas owned companies.

Thanks Qld government.

Mick

And I wonder what would have been said by the opposition and media had the government awarded it to a more expensive bidder? Blaming the government is just convenient face-saving, the tender process is in place for a reason.

I assume REX must employ a few people locally and they don't fly them all in from overseas? REX have claimed that they've grown pax numbers on the Northern 1 and Northern 2 routes since they started them in 2011, perhaps they'll be able to achieve the same on Western 1/2 and the Gulf routes and eventually employ more people than Skytrans in communities they serve.

At the end of the day if Skytrans' business model didn't adapt fast enough after the loss of FIFO work and the TWB-SYD route (at the hands of QF Link) and their survival was based solely on 3 subsidised routes that they knew were up for renewal, one could assume that they were probably starting to get a bit wobbly anyway, so perhaps these communities are getting a more secure service into the future.

Good on Skytrans for recognising the writing on the wall and winding things up while they still had money to pay staff out, there's not too many times in our local aviation history where that has been the case.

[Mick F]

Rob,
I believe part the reason for requiring aircraft like the SAAB and Dash, was disabled passenger access.

When Macair fell over years ago, West Wing took up the TVL-HUG-RIC-JLC-ISA run as an interim with the B1900D. When the tender came out, one of the reasons West Wing missed out was because of the lack of wheelchair access.

Mick

[Rob R]

When I flew 1900D's and Bandits we loaded wheelchair passengers all the time, it just takes a little longer. Flight West operated the route for 12 years with Kingair's and Jetstreams without any problems.

The wheelchair argument is just another excuse the local governments to demand larger aircraft, when there is no need for one.

[Mick F]

Only regurgitating what was in the media at the time...

[Rob R]

I know and the media believe what the governments tells them.

[Rob R]

Looks like REX have changed their minds.

http://australianaviation.com.au/201...e-york-routes/

Hinterland and Westwing with the 12-19 seat aircraft seem to be in the box seat.

[Rowan McKeever]

Typical Rex. Such a joke that any state / territory government would give them CSO work... go the mighty $

[Nigel C]

There's life in the old dog yet....

It looks like Skytrans will fly again, with Johnathan Thurston being named as one of the investors, in partnership with West Wing Aviation owner, Colling Aviation.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviat...31-1mc7nd.html

http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/ca...-1227286814087