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Virgin Australia Regional Airlines

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This article is about the Australian airline. For SkyWest Airlines in North America, see SkyWest.
Skywest
File:Skywest oz logo.gif
IATA ICAO Call sign
XR OZW OZWEST
Founded1963
Fleet size7 Fokker F50
6 Fokker F100 aircraft
DestinationsAlbany, Bali, Broome, Carnarvon, Darwin, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra, Melbourne, Monkey Mia, Newman and Port Hedland
HeadquartersPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Key peoplePaul Daff (CEO)
Hugh Davin (M. Director)
Jeff Chatfield (Exec. Chairman)
Websitehttp://www.skywest.com.au

Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Australia servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia. Their on-time performance average for 2007 was 82.66%.[1]

History

Skywest began service in 1963 as Carnarvon Air Taxis. The airline was owned by Ansett Australia, operating flights on their behalf, until Ansett's demise in 2002. Skywest was then successfully purchased by private investors. In 2004 it was the subject of a hostile takeover attempt by a Singapore-based investment company CapitveVision Capital Ltd, which succeeded in gaining a majority stake. On 8 February 2007, news broke that the airline may be the target of a tie-up with Singapore-based Tiger Airways,[2] although no business arrangements were ever concluded. Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is ultimately owned by Singapore incorporated London Stock Exchange AIM market quoted Skywest Airlines Ltd (code SKYW.LN) who now own 100% of the airline. [3]

Skywest F100 VH-FNY at Busselton Airport 2004.

Fleet

Skywest currently operates a combined fleet of seven Fokker 50 and seven Fokker 100 aircraft which are utilised for scheduled services as well as a range of charter services.

Skywest is also looking to purchase/lease through it's parent company 2 Airbus A320s, which will mainly be used on fly-in/fly-out charter work.

Skywest has also announced to the London Stock Exchange the lease of a further Fokker 100 aircraft from Aircraft Leasing company Aviation PLC (AVAP.PZ) which will be used to expand its network.

Services are provided using the following aircraft:

Registration Aircraft Type Serial No. Delivery Date Seating
VH-FNJ Fokker F100 11489 28 April 2004 100Y
VH-FNN Fokker F100 11326 15 October 2007 100Y
VH-FNR Fokker F100 11488 03 August 2004 100Y
VH-FNT Fokker F100 11461 28 September 2007 100Y
VH-FNY Fokker F100 11484 17 April 2005 100Y
VH-FNC Fokker F100 11496 1 May 2008 100Y
VH-FNU Fokker F100 11373 August 2008 100Y
VH-FNO Fokker F100 11??? November 2008 100Y
VH-FNA Fokker F50 20106 05 August 1995 46Y
VH-FNB Fokker F50 20107 31 December 1995 46Y
VH-FND Fokker F50 20129 08 December 1995 46Y
VH-FNE Fokker F50 20212 16 September 2006 48Y
VH-FNF Fokker F50 20200 10 December 2006 48Y
VH-FNH Fokker F50 20113 05 October 1994 46Y
VH-FNI Fokker F50 20114 09 September 1996 46Y
VH-*** Airbus A321 **** Unknown Unknown
VH-*** Airbus A321 **** Unknown Unknown

Services

Scheduled flights

As of August 2007, Skywest Airlines operates scheduled domestic flights from Perth to the following destinations:[4]

Contract flights

In addition to scheduled flights, Skywest has contracts with various mining companies to service the burgeoning Western Australian mining industry via regular air charter flights to remote minesites. These contracts include flights between:

  • Perth to Telfer
  • Geraldton to Paraburdoo via Brockman
  • Perth to Argyle
  • Perth to Fortescue Dave Forrest (Cloud Break) for Fortescue Metals
  • Perth and Windarling on behalf of Portman Iron Ore[6]
  • Perth and The Granites minesite in the Tanami Desert on behalf of Newmont Tanami[7]

International charters

Since 2004, Island Bound Holidays has chartered a Skywest Fokker 100 to undertake flights to Bali from Port Hedland and Broome.[8]

Loyalty Program

From the 1st of November 2007, Skywest joined Virgin Blue's loyalty program Velocity Rewards. Passengers can now earn points on qualifying Skywest flights. Velocity Points can be earned on all Skywest flights, excluding flights to and from Bali and charter flights. Points awarded vary from .5 per mile to 1 per mile, depending on fare class [9]

Codeshare

Skywest and Virgin Blue are codesharing partners. Velocity Rewards members can also earn points on Skywest flights.

See also

References

  1. ^ Skywest On-Time Performance Chart (accessed 2008-03-07)
  2. ^ Jetstar grows to tackle a Tiger, The Australian, 8 February 2007
  3. ^ Tiger to take on Jetstar, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2007
  4. ^ Skywest Airlines route map
  5. ^ [1] Skywest Announces Kalgoorlie to Melbourne Services
  6. ^ Skywest announces new mining contract
  7. ^ Skywest Formally Executes Three Year Agreement with Newmont Tanami Pty Ltd
  8. ^ Island Bound Holidays
  9. ^ Virgin Blue Media Release
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