Alliance Airlines

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Not to be confused with the Indian carrier Alliance Air (India), the defunct Alliance Air (Uganda), Airline alliance or Star Alliance.

Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
QQ UTY UNITY
Founded5 April 2002
Operating bases
Fleet size58
Destinations46[1]
Parent companyAlliance Aviation Services Limited
HeadquartersBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
Key people
  • Steve Padgett (Non Executive Chairman)
  • Scott McMillan (Managing Director)
Websiteallianceairlines.com.au

Alliance Airlines Pty Limited based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia with operational bases in Adelaide, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, Darwin and Rockhampton. Alliance Airlines owns and operates a fleet of Fokker and Embraer aircraft, including Fokker 50 turboprops and Fokker 70, Fokker 100 and Embraer 190 jet aircraft. Alliance operates fly-in fly-out (FIFO) air charter services for the Australian mining and resources industry, as well as private aircraft charters throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South East Asia. Alliance also provides aircraft component sales and leasing worldwide.[2]

History[]

Alliance Airlines was established in 2002 when Brisbane based Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the AOC (Airline Operator Certificate) and assets of the dormant Flight West Airlines,[3] which had been established in May 1987 and ceased scheduled services in 2001. Alliance commenced operations with two Fokker 100 aircraft[4] and has since expanded its fleet and operational capabilities to service the growing demand from the mining and energy sector. It is a subsidiary of Alliance Aviation Services that was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011 and now has over 590 employees.[5] In November 2015, Alliance announced the purchase of 6 Fokker 70 and 15 Fokker 100 aircraft from Austrian Airlines.[6] In November 2018, Alliance was awarded CAPA Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year.[7]

In February 2019, Qantas acquired a 19.9% shareholding.[8][9]

In August 2020, Alliance announced a deal to purchase 14 Embraer E190 jets adding to their current fleet and then in December 2020 ordered a further 16 more Embraer E190 jets bringing their total to 30. The first E190, named "Brazilian Lady" was received by the airline on Thursday, 29 October 2020 at Brisbane Airport and is expected to enter service in February 2021.

Safety standards[]

Alliance was recognised as the first aircraft operator in Australia to attain Flight Safety Foundation Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Gold Status in 2013[10] and in 2016, was recognised as the first regional aircraft operator in Australia to attain IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.[11]

Alliance undergoes regular safety and compliance audits including:

Services[]

Scheduled services[]

Alliance Airlines Fokker 50 at Adelaide
Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 at Canberra
Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 at Bundaberg

As of July 2021, Alliance operates the following routes under its own name:

  • Adelaide and Olympic Dam
  • Brisbane and Cloncurry
  • Brisbane and Moranbah
  • Brisbane and Emerald
  • Brisbane and Weipa
  • Cairns and Canberra
  • Cairns and Groote Eylandt
  • Perth and Kalgoorlie
  • Perth and Newman
  • Perth and Port Hedland (operated for BHP with seats made available to the public)
  • Sunshine Coast and Canberra
  • Sunshine Coast and Emerald
  • Sunshine Coast and Cairns
  • Townsville and Cairns
  • Townsville and Cloncurry

Wet lease[]

Eight Embraer 190s will be wet leased to Qantas from mid 2021 under a 3 year deal to operate the following routes under the QantasLink brand:[12][13]

  • Adelaide and Alice Springs
  • Adelaide and Cairns
  • Adelaide and Canberra
  • Adelaide and Darwin
  • Adelaide and Gold Coast
  • Adelaide and Hobart
  • Adelaide and Townsville
  • Alice Springs and Darwin
  • Canberra and Darwin
  • Melbourne and Townsville
  • Sydney and Townsville

Alliance previously operated wet lease services to Virgin Australia.[14][15]

Fly-in fly-out[]

Alliance Airlines operates fly-in fly-out air services (FIFO) to over 20 mine sites and[16] services mining projects in Australia including Ballera, Cannington, Cloncurry, Cape Preston, Groote Eylandt, Leinster, Mount Keith, Olympic Dam, Phosphate Hill, Telfer, Barimunya, Coondewanna, Newman, Leonora, Century Mine and The Granites.[17]

Aircraft charters[]

Alliance Airlines provides aircraft charters throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South East Asia

Fleet[]

As of October 2021, the Alliance Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[18]

Alliance Airlines fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y+ Y Total
Embraer 190 15[19] — 10 4 80 94 Delivered from Copa Airlines from late 2020.[20]
8 wet leased to QantasLink from mid-2021.
15 11 8 80 99 Delivered from American Airlines from late 2020.[21]
2 112 112 Delivered from Helvetic Airways from late 2021.[22]
Fokker 50 4 — 50 Used exclusively between Adelaide and Olympic Dam. 2 stored.
Fokker 70 13 1 80 1 stored
1 — 48 48 VIP configuration
Fokker 100 25 — 100 3 stored
Total 58 18

Former fleet[]

Alliance has previously operated the following types:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Where We Fly". www.allianceairlines.com.au.
  2. ^ McMillan, Scott (12 December 2016). "Alliance executes extension of contract with CITIC Pacific Mining". Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald. "Queensland Premier clears Alliance Airlines, Australia's newest carrier, for take off - Latest Travel News - July 2002 - ASIA Travel Tips.com". Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Alliance Airlines - Our History". Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Alliance Airlines - Our People". Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ^ Schofield, Lee (25 November 2015). "Alliance Aviation creates new business and establishes a European presence" (PDF). Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ^ "JAL, Thai Lion, Saudia, flyadeal scoop 2018 CAPA Asia Pacific Aviation Awards for Excellence". CAPA - Centre for Aviation.
  8. ^ Debrief Australian Aviation March 2019 page 15
  9. ^ Qantas stake in Alliance Airlines raises concerns Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 1 August 2019
  10. ^ "BARS News - First aircraft operators achieve Gold registration status". Flight Safety. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  11. ^ "IATA - Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd". IATA. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  12. ^ "NEW ROUTES, MORE FLIGHTS AS JETS TO CALL ADELAIDE HOME". Qantas. 7 May 2021.
  13. ^ "QANTAS ADDS SEVEN NEW ROUTES AND PUTS DREAMLINER ON DOMESTIC". Qantas. 25 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Alliance Airlines adds new routes in Queensland as Virgin prepares to close Brisbane ATR base". Australian Aviation. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  15. ^ Hatch, Patrick (11 June 2020). "Alliance Aviation readies to buy 20 planes to fill Virgin void". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Alliance Airlines - Where We Fly". Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  17. ^ Dyer, Matthew (12 September 2015). "Alliance Aviation signs new 5-year contract" (PDF). Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Alliance Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net.
  19. ^ Authority, Civil Aviation Safety (24 June 2021). "Aircraft register search". Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Alliance pounces on planes deal, buying 14 Embraer jets". The Australian. 3 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Alliance scoop up another 16 Embraer E190 jets". Executive Traveller. 18 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Alliance acquires an additional two E190 aircraft". AVIATOR. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

External links[]

Media related to Alliance Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

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