List of airlines of Australia

Last updated

The airline industry in Australia began in the early 1920s with Western Australian Airways on the west coast, and Australian Aircraft & Engineering on the east coast. In 1920 (November), Qantas was formed, and continues to operate. [1]

Contents

This is a list of airlines that have a current air operator's certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. [2]

Scheduled airlines

Airline IATA ICAO Callsign ImageHub airport(s)Notes
Air Link LZ Air Link (VH-RUI) Beechcraft 1900D at Sydney Airport.jpg Dubbo City Regional Airport Ceased passenger services January 2018. [3] Recommenced passenger services in November 2019. [4]
Airnorth TLANOTOPEND Airnorth Embraer ERJ-170-100LR 170LR PER Lim.jpg Darwin International Airport Operates scheduled services to regional airports in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Also has an international service to Timor Leste. [5]
Alliance Airlines QQUTYUNITY Alliance Airlines Fokker 100 Bundaberg Vabre.jpg Brisbane Airport Owns and operates a fleet of Fokker aircraft including Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 jet aircraft.[ citation needed ] Operates Virgin Australia branded flights, as well as closed charter and FIFO for mining operations around Australia. [6] They have also wet-leased several Embraer 190s to Qantas since June 2021. [7]
ASL Airlines Australia PHSFZPIONAIR Pionair Australia (VH-SAZ) BAe 146-200QC at Sydney Airport (1).jpg Sydney Airport Operates BAe 146 Freighters on behalf of Qantas Freight, typically under the Qantas callsign. [8]
Aviair GD AviAir, contracted for the NPWS as Parkair 7, (VH-TQV) Cessna 208B Grand Caravan at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg East Kimberley Regional Airport Previously known as Slingair Heliworks. [9]
Bonza ABBNZBONZA Bonza VH-UJT Boeing 737-MAX 8 Avalon Airport (AVV YMAV) (52551299507).jpg Sunshine Coast Airport Ceased passenger services April 2024. Currently under voluntary administration. [10]
Eastern Air Services Port Macquarie Airport Based in Port Macquarie with RPT between Lord Howe Island and Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Gold Coast. [11]
Eastern Australia Airlines QFQLKQ-LINK Eastern Australia Airlines (VH-TQE) de Havilland Canada DHC-8-315 on approach to runway 25 at Sydney Airport (1).jpg Sydney Airport Operates Bombardier Q200 and Q300 aircraft under the QantasLink brand.
FlyPelican FPFREPELICAN FlyPelican (VH-OTD) British Aerospace Jetstream 32 at Bankstown Airport.jpg Newcastle Airport Regional airline operating in NSW, ACT and Queensland with a fleet of 5 Jetstream 32 aircraft. [12]
Fly Tiwi Darwin International Airport Owned by Hardy Aviation. [13]
Hinterland Aviation OIHNDHINTERLAND Hinterland Cessna caravan.JPG Cairns Airport, Townsville Airport Operates 2 Beechcraft King Air B200, 8 Cessna 208 Caravan, 2 Cessna 404, 2 Cessna 402 and 1 Cessna 310 aircraft. [14]
Jetstar JQJSTJETSTAR Airbus A320-232, Jetstar Airways AN0750828.jpg Melbourne Airport Low-cost subsidiary of Qantas.
King Island Airlines KG King Island Airlines (VH-KGQ) Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante at Moorabbin Airport.jpg Moorabbin Airport Operates scheduled services between Moorabbin Airport and King Island Airport. [15]
Link Airways FC VH-VEK Fairchild SA-227DC Metro 23 Vee H Aviation (10877948346).jpg Brisbane Airport Airline operated by Corporate Air. Formally known as Fly Corporate. [16]
Nexus Airlines CTCONNECT Geraldton Airport, Broome Airport A regional airline with bases in Geraldton and Broome. Primarily operates to coastal airports in Western Australia.
Par Avion FOATMAIRTAS Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander with Mount Rugby behind - Melaleuca.jpg Launceston Airport, Cambridge Aerodrome A regional airline based in Hobart, Tasmania. It operates scheduled services for five locations in Tasmania. [17]
Qantas QFQFAQANTAS Qantas Dreamliner departing Adelaide (24625798438).jpg Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport
QantasLink QFQLK

QJE

NWK

Q-LINK

Q-JET

NET-LINK

QantasLink B717-231 (VH-NXO) departing Perth Airport.jpg Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport, Perth Airport Owned by Qantas.
Rex Airlines ZLRXAREX Regional Express Airlines (VH-ZRK) Saab 340B on approach to runway 25 at Sydney Airport.jpg Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport, Perth Airport Formally known as Regional Express Airlines.
Sharp Airlines SHSHASHARP Fairchild SA-227DC Metro 23, Sharp Airlines AN2316311.jpg Hamilton Airport
Skippers Aviation HKSKIPPY s Skippers Aviation Brasilia PER Hutchison.jpg Perth Airport
Skytrans QNSKPSKYTRANS Skytrans Dash 8 at Brisbane Airport.jpg Cairns Airport, Brisbane Airport, Horn Island Airport Skytrans is a Cairns, Queensland based airline and air charter business. It is owned by Avia Solutions Group.
Sunstate Airlines QFQLKQ-LINK Qantas Link DHC-8-400 Dash 8; VH-QOE@SYD;31.07.2012 666hp (7863457052).jpg Brisbane Airport Operates Bombardier Q400 aircraft under the QantasLink brand.
Virgin Australia VAVOZVELOCITY VH-VPH - 777-3ZG ER - Virgin Australia (9211639075).jpg Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Airport
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines VAVOZVELOCITY VH-FVP 'Wategos Beach' ATR 72-600 Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) (10753806756).jpg Perth Airport
West Wing Aviation VH-JQK Cessna 310R Flight Training Australia (8188220415).jpg Cairns Airport Sister company to Skytrans. All flights operate by SkyTrans

Charter airlines

Airline IATA ICAO Callsign ImageHub airport(s)Notes
Aerlink HT Perth Airport
Air Gold Coast AGCAGC Gold Coast Airport
Air Fraser Island Gold Coast Airport
East Air Cairns Airport, Weipa Airport Operates under East Air and Weipa Air. [18]
GAM Air VHYJA.jpg Essendon Airport Operates Twin Commander, Cessna Caravan and Dornier 228 Aircraft.
Hardy Aviation Coomalie Creek Merlin Magic July 2008.jpg Darwin International Airport
Hevilift HTHEVILIFT Brisbane Airport
Maroomba Airlines KN VH-QQA Dash 8 Maroomba (7353930622).jpg Perth Airport Operates Dash 8-100 and -300 aircraft. [19]
National Jet Express NCJTEJETEX Cobham Aviation Services Embraer 190LR.jpg Adelaide Airport Operates Bombardier Q400, Embraer E190 and as Cobham Aviation Services Australia.
Network Aviation QFNWKNETLINK QantasLink Boeing 717 VH-NXM Perth 2019 (01).jpg Perth Airport Operates Fokker 100 and Airbus A320 aircraft under the QantasLink brand. [20]
Pel-Air PAPFYPELFLIGHT Pel-Air (VH-KDB) Saab 340A taxiing at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg Sydney Airport Pel-Air is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Regional Express Holdings. [21]
RMA Gold Airways Perth Airport
Seair Pacific Gold Coast Airport Tourism and Charter Operator. Provides air services to Lady Elliot Island. [22]
Shoal Air East Kimberley Regional Airport
Southern Airlines Moorabbin Airport Charter and tour airline operating Beechcraft 1900, Beechcraft Super King Air, Turbo Commander 690, Piper PA-31 Chieftain and Beechcraft Baron. [23]
Skytraders SNDSNOWBIRD Skytraders Airbus A319 parked at Hobart Airport.jpg Melbourne Airport
Sydney Seaplanes Cessna A185F Skywagon 185, Sydney By Seaplane AN0680023.jpg Rose Bay Water Airport Is a domestic and charter carrier in and around the Sydney Region and is the largest seaplane operator in Australia.

Cargo airlines

Airline IATA ICAO Callsign ImageHub airport(s)Notes
Express Freighters Australia QEEFAEXPRESS FREIGHT Australian Air Express Boeing 737-300F Nazarinia.jpg Sydney Airport Owned by Qantas Freight, a subsidiary of Qantas.
National Jet Express NCJTEJETEX VH-NJV British Aerospace BAe 146-100(QT) Quiet Trader Australian air Express (Cobham Aviation Services Australia) (7341261418).jpg Adelaide Airport Operates BAe 146 / Avro RJ Freighters on behalf of Qantas Freight.[ citation needed ]
Pel-Air PAPFYPELFLIGHT Pel-Air (VH-KDB) Saab 340A taxiing at Wagga Wagga Airport.jpg Brisbane Airport Operates Saab 340 Freighters on behalf of Qantas Freight.
Qantas Freight QFQFAQANTAS Qantas Freight Boeing 767-300F; VH-EFR@SYD;29.07.2012 664eo (8026289356).jpg Sydney Airport,
Melbourne Airport
Tasman Cargo Airlines HJTMNTASMAN
VH-TCA NZAA 8721 (9222824524) (3).jpg
Sydney Airport Operates one Boeing 767-300F for freight operations.[ citation needed ]
Team Global Express TFXTOLL EXPRESS ZK-TLD Boeing 737-3B7(SF) Toll Aviation (Airwork New Zealand) (6213991158).jpg Bankstown Airport,
Brisbane Airport

See also

Related Research Articles

Qantas Airways Limited, or simply Qantas, is the flag carrier of Australia, and Australia`s largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and Oceania. A founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance, it is the only airline in the world that flies to all seven continents, with it operating flights to Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America and South America from its hubs in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. It also flies to over 60 domestic destinations across Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Airport</span> International airport serving Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport — colloquially Mascot Airport, Kingsford Smith Airport, or Sydney Airport — is an international airport serving Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 8 km (5.0 mi) south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot. Sydney Airport is the busiest airport in Oceania. It is the primary airport serving Sydney and is a primary hub for Qantas, as well as a secondary hub for Virgin Australia and Jetstar.

Virgin Australia is an Australian airline based in Brisbane. It is one of two active airlines to use the Virgin brand, as well as the larger by fleet size. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 as Virgin Blue, with two aircraft on a single route. It suddenly found itself becoming a major airline in Australia's domestic market after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline's business model consists of the core features of a low-cost carrier, along with some elements of a full-service airline. As of June 2024, the airline serves 33 Australian destinations with its Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 737 Next Generation fleets from its hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747-400</span> Wide-body airliner, improved production series of the 747

The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747. The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] of additional range. Northwest Airlines became the first customer with an order for 10 aircraft on October 22, 1985. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, and made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988. Type certification was received on January 9, 1989, and it entered service with Northwest on February 9, 1989.

Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd, trading as Jetstar, is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by the airline Virgin Blue. Jetstar is part of Qantas' two-brand strategy of having Qantas Airways for the premium full-service market and Jetstar for the low-cost market. As of June 2015, Jetstar was carrying 8.5% of all passengers travelling in and out of Australia.

Fiji Airways, formerly Air Pacific, is the flag carrier of Fiji. It operates international services from its hubs in Fiji to 27 destinations, and has an extended network of 108 international destinations through its codeshare partners, including Qantas, who also own a stake in the airline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Coast Airport</span> Airport on the state border between Queensland and New South Wales, Australia

Gold Coast Airport is a domestic and international Australian airport located at the southern end of the Gold Coast and approximately 90 km (56 mi) south of Brisbane, within the South East Queensland agglomeration. The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga near Coolangatta. The main runway itself cuts through the state borders of Queensland and New South Wales. During summer, these states are in two different time zones. The Gold Coast Airport operates on Queensland Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Airport</span> Airport in Canberra, Australia

Canberra Airport is an international airport situated in the district of Majura, Australian Capital Territory. It serves Australia's capital city, Canberra, as well as the nearby city of Queanbeyan and regional areas of the Australian Capital Territory and southeastern New South Wales. Located approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) from the city centre, within the North Canberra district, it is the ninth-busiest airport in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kangaroo Route</span> Flights between Britain and Australia over the Eastern Hemisphere

The Kangaroo Route is a term coined by Qantas, referring to the commercial passenger air routes flown between Australia and the United Kingdom via the Eastern Hemisphere.

Alliance Airlines Pty Limited is an Australian airline based at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Queensland, with operational bases in Adelaide, Cairns, Perth, Townsville, Darwin, and Rockhampton. Alliance Airlines owns and operates a fleet of Fokker and Embraer jet aircraft: Fokker 70, Fokker 100 and Embraer 190. Alliance runs 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.

QantasLink is a full-service, regional brand of Australian flag carrier Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. As of 2024, QantasLink provides over 2,000 flights each week to 65 metropolitan, regional and remote destinations across Australia, as well as short-haul international services to Singapore, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and East Timor. Flights are operated by the Qantas owned subsidiaries of Eastern Australia Airlines, National Jet Systems, Network Aviation and Sunstate Airlines, with E190s wet-leased from Alliance Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackay Airport</span> Airport in Mackay, Queensland

Mackay Airport located in South Mackay, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, Hamilton Island, Cairns, Sunshine Coast and Melbourne. In the year ending 30 June 2012, the airport handled 969,900 passengers making it the 14th busiest airport in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle–Williamtown Airport</span> Airport serving Newcastle, Australia

Newcastle Airport, also known as Williamtown Airport, is an international airport in Williamtown, New South Wales. It is located 15 kilometres; 9.2 miles (8 NM) north of Newcastle in Port Stephens. It is the 13th busiest airport in Australia, handling over 1.25 million passengers in the year ended 30 June 2017, an increase of 6.6% on the previous year. The airport occupies a 28 ha (69-acre) site on the southern border of RAAF Base Williamtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747SP</span> Shortened modification of a Boeing 747

The Boeing 747SP is a shortened version of the Boeing 747 wide-body airliner, designed for a longer range. It is the highest flying subsonic passenger airliner, with a service ceiling of 45,100 feet (13,700 m). Boeing needed a smaller aircraft to compete with the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar tri-jet wide-bodies, introduced in 1971/1972. Pan Am requested a 747-100 derivative to fly between New York and the Middle East, a request also shared by Iran Air, and the first order came from Pan Am in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pel-Air</span> Australian airline

Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd is an airline based in Mascot, Sydney, Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toll Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geraldton Airport</span> Airport in Moonyoonooka, Western Australia

Geraldton Airport is an airport located 6 nautical miles east of Geraldton, Western Australia, in Moonyoonooka along the Geraldton – Mount Magnet Road.

Qantas is Australia's largest airline. Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland, on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited by Paul McGinness, Sir Hudson Fysh and Sir Fergus McMaster, the latter of whom was chairman. Arthur Baird was employed as a chief aircraft engineer. McGinness left QANTAS for other interests, and Hudson Fysh remained with the company as General Manager & Managing Director. He retired as Sir Hudson Fysh KBE DFC, Chairman of QANTAS in 1966.

Qantas operates a fleet of Airbus A330, Airbus A380, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787, with a total of 125 aircraft. This list excludes subsidiaries Jetstar, QantasLink and Qantas Freight.

Hardy Aviation (N.T.) Pty Ltd, is an air charter company based at Darwin International Airport in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It operates air charter services. Its main base is Darwin International Airport.

References

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