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Alliance Airlines

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.[2]

History

Alliance Airlines was established in 2002 when Brisbane based Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the AOC (Air Operator's Certificate) and assets of the dormant Flight West,[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 approximately 1450 full-time equivalent employees.[5]

Alliance was recognised as the first aircraft operator in Australia to attain Flight Safety Foundation Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Gold Status in 2013[6]

In November 2015, Alliance announced the purchase of 6 Fokker 70 and 15 Fokker 100 aircraft from Austrian Airlines.[7] In 2016, the airline was recognised as the first regional aircraft operator in Australia to attain IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.[8] In November 2018, Alliance was awarded CAPA Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year.[9]

In February 2019, Qantas acquired a 19.9% shareholding.[10][11]

In August 2020, Alliance announced a deal to purchase 14 Embraer 190 jets adding to their current fleet and then in December 2020 ordered a further 16 more Embraer 190 jets bringing their total to 30. The first E190, named Brazilian Lad was received by the airline on 29 October 2020 at Brisbane Airport and was expected to enter service in February 2021.

In May 2022, Alliance announced it had agreed terms to be taken over by Qantas. The deal was subject to regulatory and shareholder approval[12] and in April 2023, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission opposed the takeover, and it was subsequently abandoned by both companies.[13][14]

On 27 February 2023, Alliance announced it would purchase an additional 30 E190s from Aercap for delivery between September 2023 and January 2026,[15] most if not all of which being ex-jetBlue E-jets.[16] The aircraft will be initially certified and maintained at their new base in Rockhampton, Queensland.[15]

Services

Scheduled services

As of August 2024, Alliance operates some routes under its own name but the majority of its services are fly-in fly-out.[17] These include:

  • Adelaide to Olympic Dam
  • Brisbane to Weipa
  • Brisbane to Moranbah
  • Cairns to Weipa
  • Cairns to Groote Eylandt
  • Perth to Kalgoorlie

Fly-in fly-out

Alliance Airlines operates fly-in fly-out air services (FIFO) to over 20 mine sites[18] and services mining projects in Australia including Ballera, Cannington, Cloncurry, Cape Preston, Leinster, Mount Keith, Phosphate Hill, Telfer, Barimunya, Coondewanna, Newman, Leonora, Century Mine and The Granites.[19]

Aircraft lease

  • Qantas; using 30 Embraer 190s under a wet lease from mid 2021 under a seven-year deal to operate routes under the QantasLink brand:[20][21][22]
  • Virgin Australia; using Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 aircraft under a wet lease agreement[23]
  • Airnorth; using five Embraer 190 aircraft under a dry lease agreement[24]

Aircraft charters

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

Fleet

Current fleet

As of June 2025, Alliance Airlines operates the following aircraft:[25]

Former fleet

Alliance Airlines has also previously operated the following aircraft types:

  • Boeing 737-400 – Two aircraft (2012–2013, wet leased from Airwork)
  • Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia – Three aircraft (2002–2003, inherited from Flight West, sold to Skippers Aviation)
  • Fokker 50 – Eight aircraft (2007–2022)

See also

External links

References

  1. Where We Fly www.allianceairlines.com.au, retrieved 7 April 2021^
  2. Scott McMillan. Alliance executes extension of contract with CITIC Pacific Mining 12 December 2016, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  3. Queensland Premier clears Alliance Airlines, Australia's newest carrier, for take off - Latest Travel News - July 2002 - ASIA Travel Tips.com The Sydney Morning Herald, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  4. Alliance Airlines - Our History Alliance Airlines, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  5. IBISWorld - Industry Market Research, Reports, and Statistics www.ibisworld.com, retrieved 2023-06-11^
  6. BARS News - First aircraft operators achieve Gold registration status Flight Safety, 28 May 2013, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  7. Lee Schofield. Alliance Aviation creates new business and establishes a European presence Alliance Airlines, 25 November 2015, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  8. IATA - Alliance Airlines Pty Ltd IATA, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  9. JAL, Thai Lion, Saudia, flyadeal scoop 2018 CAPA Asia Pacific Aviation Awards for Excellence CAPA - Centre for Aviation, retrieved 27 March 2019^
  10. Debrief Australian Aviation March 2019 page 15^
  11. Qantas stake in Alliance Airlines raises concerns Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 1 August 2019^
  12. . However, in 2023 both Alliance and QANTAS announced the termination of the deal due to not coming to agreed terms. Alliance enters scheme of implementation deed with Qantas Airways Limited Alliance Aviation Services 5 May 2022^
  13. ACCC opposes Qantas' acquisition of Alliance Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 20 April 2023^
  14. Competition watchdog rejects Qantas' acquisition of Alliance Sydney Morning Herald 20 April 2023^
  15. Fleet acquisition of an additional 30 E190 Aircraft Alliance Aviation Services Limited, 2023-02-27, retrieved 25 March 2025^
  16. Ricardo Meier. Alliance Aviation completes purchase of 30 used E190 jets from the US - Air Data News www.airdatanews.com, 2023-02-27, retrieved 2025-03-25^
  17. Where We Fly www.allianceairlines.com.au, retrieved 2023-03-23^
  18. Alliance Airlines - Where We Fly Alliance Airlines, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  19. Matthew Dyer. Alliance Aviation signs new 5-year contract Alliance Airlines, 12 September 2015, retrieved 24 January 2017^
  20. NEW ROUTES, MORE FLIGHTS AS JETS TO CALL ADELAIDE HOME Qantas, 7 May 2021, retrieved 11 May 2021^
  21. QANTAS ADDS SEVEN NEW ROUTES AND PUTS DREAMLINER ON DOMESTIC Qantas, 25 May 2021, retrieved 26 May 2021^
  22. Qantas to bump E190 fleet by YE24 - Alliance Air Ch-aviation, 29 August 2024, retrieved 31 August 2024^
  23. Virgin Australia orders six incremental B737-8s Ch-aviation, 24 November 2023, retrieved 30 December 2023^
  24. Scott McMilan. Alliance Aviation Services Limited (ASX code: AQZ) 2023 Annual General Meeting Managing Director's Address Alliance Aviation Services Limited, 2023-11-28, retrieved 2024-02-03^
  25. Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Aircraft register search Civil Aviation Safety Authority, 2021-06-24, retrieved 2021-06-24^
  26. Alliance pounces on planes deal, buying 14 Embraer jets The Australian, 3 August 2020, retrieved 3 August 2020^
  27. QANTAS AND ALLIANCE AVIATION TERMINATE ACQUISITION PLANS, AGREE ON MORE AIRCRAFT Qantas Newsroom, 2023-10-19, retrieved 2024-08-11^
  28. Alliance scoop up another 16 Embraer E190 jets Executive Traveller, 18 December 2020, retrieved 18 December 2020^
  29. Alliance acquires an additional two E190 aircraft AVIATOR, 2021-06-28, retrieved 29 June 2021^
  30. Alliance Plans To Grow Fleet By Purchasing E190s From AerCap aviationweek.com, retrieved 5 May 2024^
  31. Pionair Australia puts only E190 up for sale www.ch-aviation.com, 2021-11-18, retrieved 7 August 2022^