Airline eyes off contracts to Gulf
CAIRNS-BASED regional carrier Skytrans has its sights set on reclaiming the Gulf country routes, a move that would create dozens of jobs in the Far North.
The contract is held by Regional Express (REX) at the moment, but Skytrans chief executive Michael Thinee said the aircraft carrier was eager to take over from its competitor.
Skytrans has previously flown to the three main towns in the Gulf – Normanton, Doomadgee and Mornington Island – and Mr Thinee said the company knew “exactly what to do and how to do it”.
“We’d have another three aircraft in service, which would automatically mean another 42 flying crew,” he said.
“You’d be looking at all up another 76 jobs in the region.
“A lot of that is not done by the current operator because their head office is in New South Wales, so its support is from there, rather than locally.”
The contract for the routes would again be up for grabs in HIGH FLYING: Skytrans co-owner Johnathan Thurston at Cairns Airport. about two-and-a-half Mr Thinee said.
“We’d love to be servicing the Gulf ... certainly it aligns with the culture of our business and who we like to work with,” he said.
Skytrans, which services the majority of Cape York communities, this week announced years, an increase in the number of its flights.
That announcement means many Cape residents who use Skytrans for medical journeys, will no longer have to spend the night in hospital.
The move was applauded by Apunipima Cape York Health Council with its chief executive Paula Arnol saying the airline was helping to close the gap between indigenous and nonindigenous life expectancy.
“Our partnership has grown over the past two years, having such a service has enabled our workforce to expand and reach even further in our care to the people of Cape York,” she said.