Kingscote Airport
Encyclopedia
Kingscote Airport is roughly 13 km out of Kingscote
, South Australia
the main town on Kangaroo Island
. The airport is the main airport for Kangaroo Island. The airport is serviced by RPT and many charter flights. The airport is controlled by the Kangaroo Island Council, who have operated the airport since 16 June 1983.
(ASA), a subsidiary of Ansett Airlines. The airline's final service was on 4 April 1986. ASA primarily operated Convair
s, Douglas DC-3
and Fokker F-27 aircraft. A Piaggio P166 was used infrequently in the 1970s, whilst Rossair
operated Cessna 402's
in an arrangement with ASA to replace the F27's in off-peak times.
Following the withdrawal of ASA, Kendell Airlines
(another Ansett subsidiary), operated 19-seat Fairchild Metroliners
and 34 seat SAAB
aircraft to the Island. Upon Ansett's ultimate demise in 2002, Regional Express
(Rex) acquired the Kendell aircraft and continued services which are maintained today.
In competition with the larger aircraft, and generally with more flexible timetables, a succession of smaller airlines from the 1980s tried with varying success to maintain a 'second string' presence. The most successful, Emu Airways
, commenced in 1980 and made its final flight in November 2005. Emu flew Piper Chieftain
aircraft to Kingscote, American River, Penneshaw and Parndana, before air regulations dictated abandonment of all airstrips except Kingscote. Air Kangaroo Island (formerly Air Transit), flew Cessna 402's
to the Island during the 1990s. Keith Stevens operated Albatross Airlines for much of the 1980s and early 1990s.
From 1986 to 1990, Lloyd Aviation operated Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
aircraft, before flying the Irish-made Short 330. For several years during the 1980s, Commodore Airlines (eventually becoming State Air) offered another alternative service. QantasLink
briefly operated a service after the demise of Emu Airways, commencing 18 December 2005, but withdrew less than six months later. Qantaslink also operated direct flights from Kangaroo Island to Melbourne, the first time the route was operated. Air South started operations using a Cessna Titan in January 2007 but will cease regular flights on the 17th October 2009
s served in financial year 2009-2010.
Kingscote, South Australia
- Facilities :Kingscote has a school offering years 1 to 12, a hospital, supermarket, post office and Government offices. It is the administrative centre for the Kangaroo Island Council, whose offices have recently undergone a significant upgrade....
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
the main town on Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
. The airport is the main airport for Kangaroo Island. The airport is serviced by RPT and many charter flights. The airport is controlled by the Kangaroo Island Council, who have operated the airport since 16 June 1983.
Airline History
Guinea Airways operated the first commercial service to Kangaroo Island, commencing in the 1930s. In 1959, the airline was acquired by Airlines of South AustraliaAirlines of South Australia
Airlines of South Australia refers to*A subsidiary of Ansett Airlines that operated from 1959 until 1986, and*An independent airline that operated between 1987 and 2005.- Ansett subsidiary :...
(ASA), a subsidiary of Ansett Airlines. The airline's final service was on 4 April 1986. ASA primarily operated Convair
Convair
Convair was an American aircraft manufacturing company which later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Vultee Aircraft and Consolidated Aircraft, and went on to produce a number of pioneering aircraft, such as the Convair B-36 bomber, and the F-102...
s, Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
and Fokker F-27 aircraft. A Piaggio P166 was used infrequently in the 1970s, whilst Rossair
Rossair (Australia)
Rossair Charter is an air charter company based in Adelaide, Australia.-History:The company was established in 1963. In 2004 it was bought by Aus-Air Pty...
operated Cessna 402's
Cessna 402
The Cessna 401 and 402 are series of 6 to 10 place, light twin, piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner...
in an arrangement with ASA to replace the F27's in off-peak times.
Following the withdrawal of ASA, Kendell Airlines
Kendell
Kendell Airlines was a regional airline in Australia, at times the largest in the country. It served major regional centres in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney...
(another Ansett subsidiary), operated 19-seat Fairchild Metroliners
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
and 34 seat SAAB
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
aircraft to the Island. Upon Ansett's ultimate demise in 2002, Regional Express
Regional Express Airlines
Regional Express Pty Ltd is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services. It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, North Queensland and Tasmania...
(Rex) acquired the Kendell aircraft and continued services which are maintained today.
In competition with the larger aircraft, and generally with more flexible timetables, a succession of smaller airlines from the 1980s tried with varying success to maintain a 'second string' presence. The most successful, Emu Airways
Emu Airways
Emu Airways was an airline based in Adelaide in Australia operating tourist flights to nearby Kangaroo Island. It was part of the RegionalLink Airlines group which also included Airnorth and Airlines of South Australia .- History :...
, commenced in 1980 and made its final flight in November 2005. Emu flew Piper Chieftain
Piper PA-31 Navajo
The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
aircraft to Kingscote, American River, Penneshaw and Parndana, before air regulations dictated abandonment of all airstrips except Kingscote. Air Kangaroo Island (formerly Air Transit), flew Cessna 402's
Cessna 402
The Cessna 401 and 402 are series of 6 to 10 place, light twin, piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner...
to the Island during the 1990s. Keith Stevens operated Albatross Airlines for much of the 1980s and early 1990s.
From 1986 to 1990, Lloyd Aviation operated Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
aircraft, before flying the Irish-made Short 330. For several years during the 1980s, Commodore Airlines (eventually becoming State Air) offered another alternative service. QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
briefly operated a service after the demise of Emu Airways, commencing 18 December 2005, but withdrew less than six months later. Qantaslink also operated direct flights from Kangaroo Island to Melbourne, the first time the route was operated. Air South started operations using a Cessna Titan in January 2007 but will cease regular flights on the 17th October 2009
Statistics
Kingscote Airport was ranked 55th in Australia for the number of revenue passengerRevenue passenger
A revenue passenger is someone who has paid the transport operator for her or his trip. That excludes non-paying passengers such as airline employees flying on free or nearly-free passes, babies and children who do not have a seat of their own, etc...
s served in financial year 2009-2010.