Macair Airlines
Encyclopedia
MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd was a regional airline
based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It operated scheduled passenger services throughout Queensland from major regional locations, as well as regular and ad hoc charters for the minerals industry in Queensland. Its main operations base was Townsville International Airport
, with hubs at Cairns International Airport
, Brisbane Airport
and Mount Isa Airport
.
In January 2009 the airline was placed in receivership
.
. MacAir Airlines grew to become a major player in Australia's regional aviation network and played an important role in providing transport to both passengers and freight throughout regional Queensland.
MacAir Airlines was based in Townsville. Staff were based in Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane.
In 1998 the growth of the mining industry and MacAir Airlines' fly-in fly-out
operations led to the expansion of the carrier and the introduction of passenger services in North Queensland. The year 2000 saw further expansion for MacAir when it merged with passenger airline Transtate Airlines and incorporated their Gulf of Carpentaria services under the MacAir banner.
The link between Townsville and Mount Isa was one of the busiest. Passenger volumes on this route serving the mining industry saw the company introduce its ATR 42-500 into service.
MacAir Airlines was a Qantas commercial partner. As such, the airline had worldwide distribution through the Qantas reservation system. This agreement between the two carriers gave passengers the ability to choose several options for booking tickets along with the ability to accrue and utilise frequent flyer points on a number of services.
On 29 January 2009, MacAir placed itself into voluntary administration; the following day major creditor Suncorp-Metway
appointed Ernst & Young
as receivers and the airline ceased operations. MacAir had previously asked the Queensland government for a $7 million one-off ex gratia payment, but the government refused, saying that MacAir had "systemic issues." On 6 February the business was closed by the receiver and its 200 employees dismissed. The administrators will now wind up the business and sell off the company's assets.
Charter Connections for Mining Companies from Townsville to
Osborne, BHP's Cannington, Zinifex
Century Mine
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It operated scheduled passenger services throughout Queensland from major regional locations, as well as regular and ad hoc charters for the minerals industry in Queensland. Its main operations base was Townsville International Airport
Townsville International Airport
Townsville Airport is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Townsville. The airport is also known as Townsville International Airport, and Garbutt Airport, a reference to its location in the Townsville suburb of Garbutt...
, with hubs at Cairns International Airport
Cairns International Airport
Cairns Airport is an international airport in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Formerly operated by the Cairns Port Authority, the airport was sold by the Queensland Government in December 2008 to a private consortium. It is the seventh busiest airport in Australia. The airport is located north of...
, Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
and Mount Isa Airport
Mount Isa Airport
Mount Isa Airport is an airport serving the western Queensland city of Mount Isa, Australia. It is served by a variety of scheduled regional airlines, with flights to Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns as well as several other regional centres....
.
In January 2009 the airline was placed in receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
.
History
MacAir Airlines was established and started charter operations in 1992 as McKinlay Air Charters, adding scheduled services in 1998. In May 2000 the Collings family sold the airline to Transjet, owner of Transtates Airlines. The two brands were merged and operate under the MacAir name. In November 2003 MacAir acquired Horizon AirlinesHorizon Airlines (Australia)
Horizon Airlines was an Australian airline based in Sydney. It predominantly operated night time cargo services on contract to Australian air Express using BAe 748 and Fairchild Metroliner aircraft but also operated some passenger services. The airline ceased operations in March 2004.In November...
. MacAir Airlines grew to become a major player in Australia's regional aviation network and played an important role in providing transport to both passengers and freight throughout regional Queensland.
MacAir Airlines was based in Townsville. Staff were based in Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane.
In 1998 the growth of the mining industry and MacAir Airlines' fly-in fly-out
Fly-in fly-out
Fly-in fly-out is a method of employing people in remote areas. It is often abbreviated to FIFO when referring to employment status. This is common in large mining states in Australia...
operations led to the expansion of the carrier and the introduction of passenger services in North Queensland. The year 2000 saw further expansion for MacAir when it merged with passenger airline Transtate Airlines and incorporated their Gulf of Carpentaria services under the MacAir banner.
The link between Townsville and Mount Isa was one of the busiest. Passenger volumes on this route serving the mining industry saw the company introduce its ATR 42-500 into service.
MacAir Airlines was a Qantas commercial partner. As such, the airline had worldwide distribution through the Qantas reservation system. This agreement between the two carriers gave passengers the ability to choose several options for booking tickets along with the ability to accrue and utilise frequent flyer points on a number of services.
On 29 January 2009, MacAir placed itself into voluntary administration; the following day major creditor Suncorp-Metway
Suncorp-Metway
Suncorp Group Limited is an Australian finance, insurance, and banking corporation based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of Australia's largest banks and its largest general insurance group, formed on 1 December 1996 by the merger of Suncorp, Metway Bank and the Queensland Industry...
appointed Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
as receivers and the airline ceased operations. MacAir had previously asked the Queensland government for a $7 million one-off ex gratia payment, but the government refused, saying that MacAir had "systemic issues." On 6 February the business was closed by the receiver and its 200 employees dismissed. The administrators will now wind up the business and sell off the company's assets.
Destinations
At the end of January 2009 MacAir operated to the following scheduled destinations:- From Townsville to:
- Mount Isa (Mount Isa AirportMount Isa AirportMount Isa Airport is an airport serving the western Queensland city of Mount Isa, Australia. It is served by a variety of scheduled regional airlines, with flights to Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns as well as several other regional centres....
) - CloncurryCloncurry, Queensland-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...
(Cloncurry AirportCloncurry AirportCloncurry Airport is an airport in Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia.-History:Cloncurry Airport has been the focal point for many of Australia’s greatest innovations...
) - WintonWinton, Queensland-Qantas:Winton was one of the founding towns of the Australian airline Qantas. The first board meeting was held at the Winton Club on 10 February 1921.-Waltzing Matilda:...
(Winton AirportWinton AirportWinton Airport is an airport serving Winton, Queensland, Australia. It is located northeast of Winton and operated by the Winton Shire Council.-Facilities:...
) - Longreach (Longreach AirportLongreach AirportLongreach Airport is situated in Longreach, Queensland, Australia. The airport is from the center of the city.-History:Longreach has played a major part in Australian aviation from...
) - MoranbahMoranbah, QueenslandMoranbah is a town in Queensland, Australia, located on the Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont, in the Isaac region. It is a coal mining town and at the 2006 census had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a...
(Moranbah AirportMoranbah AirportMoranbah Airport is an airport serving Moranbah, Queensland, Australia. It is located south of Moranbah and operated by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, a coal mining company.-Facilities:...
) - MackayMackay, QueenslandMackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
(Mackay AirportMackay AirportMackay Airport located in Mackay, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns...
) - EmeraldEmerald, QueenslandEmerald is a town located in the Central Highlands district of Central Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council....
(Emerald AirportEmerald AirportEmerald Airport is an airport serving Emerald, a town located in the Central Highlands district of Queensland, Australia. It is located south of the Emerald town centre, on Springsure Road...
) - BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(Brisbane AirportBrisbane AirportBrisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
) - HughendenHughenden, QueenslandHughenden is a town in Queensland, Australia situated on the banks of the Flinders River. It was named after Hughenden Manor, the home of former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. At the 2006 census, Hughenden had a population of 1,154.-History:...
(Hughenden AirportHughenden AirportHughenden Airport is an airport in Hughenden, Queensland, Australia . The airport was opened in 1963. The airport is 4.2 km from the center of the town.-Airlines and destinations:Townsville, Richmond, Julia Creek, Mount Isa...
) - RichmondRichmond, QueenslandRichmond is a town in western Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Flinders Highway, 498 km west of Townsville and 406 km east of Mount Isa. It is the administrative centre of the Richmond Shire. At the 2006 census, Richmond had a population of 554.The Flinders River forms...
(Richmond AirportRichmond AirportFor the airport in Virginia, USA, see Richmond International AirportRichmond Airport is an airport serving Richmond, Queensland, Australia. It is located northwest of Richmond and operated by the Richmond Shire Council.-Facilities:...
) - Julia CreekJulia Creek, QueenslandJulia Creek is a town in mid northern Queensland, located on the Overlander's Way, the main road between Mount Isa and Townsville. It is west of Townsville, and is located 123 m above sea level. At the 2006 census, Julia Creek had a population of 368....
(Julia Creek AirportJulia Creek AirportJulia Creek Airport is an airport in Julia Creek, Queensland, Australia .-Airlines and destinations:Townsville, Mount Isa, Richmond, Hughenden...
)
- Mount Isa (Mount Isa Airport
- From Cairns to:
- Mount Isa (Mount Isa AirportMount Isa AirportMount Isa Airport is an airport serving the western Queensland city of Mount Isa, Australia. It is served by a variety of scheduled regional airlines, with flights to Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns as well as several other regional centres....
) - NormantonNormanton, Queensland-External links:****...
(Normanton AirportNormanton AirportNormanton Airport is an airport in Normanton, Queensland, Australia. A new terminal was opened in February 2006. The airport received $132,100 for security upgrades in 2006.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - Mornington IslandMornington IslandMornington Island is the northern most of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria at and is part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area lies about 40 km to...
(Mornington Island AirportMornington Island AirportMornington Island Airport is an airport on Mornington Island, Queensland, Australia. in 2006 the airport received $200,853 in funds to improve security.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - BurketownBurketown, Queensland- Morning glory cloud :From the months of August to November, a rare meteorological phenomenon known as "Morning Glory" - long, tubular clouds, some up to 1000 km in length - is often observed in the skies above Burketown.....
(Burketown AirportBurketown AirportBurketown Airport is an airport in Burketown, Queensland, Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - DoomadgeeDoomadgee, QueenslandDoomadgee Aboriginal Mission, originally known as Dumaji, was located on Bayley Point on the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 1936 after being destroyed by a cyclone the community was relocated to Nicholson River...
(Doomadgee AirportDoomadgee AirportDoomadgee Airport is an airport in Doomadgee, Queensland, Australia . The airport recently received $200,853 for security upgrades.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - PormpuraawPormpuraaw, QueenslandPormpuraaw is an Aboriginal community situated on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula approximately half way between Karumba and Weipa on the Edward River. It is by road from Cairns. Pormpuraaw currently has a 2-man police station...
(Edward River AirportEdward River AirportEdward River Airport is an airport in Pormpuraaw, Queensland, Australia.-External links:*...
) - KowanyamaKowanyama, QueenslandKowanyama is a town on the Gulf of Carpentaria side of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.At the 2006 census, Kowanyama had a population of 1,017....
(Kowanyama AirportKowanyama AirportKowanyama Airport is an airport in Kowanyama, Queensland, Australia. The airport recently received $107,448 for security upgrades.-External links:* from Airservices Australia...
)
- Mount Isa (Mount Isa Airport
- From BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to:- MoranbahMoranbah, QueenslandMoranbah is a town in Queensland, Australia, located on the Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont, in the Isaac region. It is a coal mining town and at the 2006 census had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a...
(Moranbah AirportMoranbah AirportMoranbah Airport is an airport serving Moranbah, Queensland, Australia. It is located south of Moranbah and operated by BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, a coal mining company.-Facilities:...
) - Townsville (Townsville Airport)
- OakeyOakey, QueenslandOakey is a rural town situated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is situated west of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Oakey had a population of 3,657.-History:...
(Oakey Army Aviation CentreOakey Army Aviation CentreOakey Army Aviation Centre is situated approximately 3 km from the town centre of Oakey in Queensland, Australia. It provides a training establishment for Australian Army Aviation, and also hosts a Singapore Armed Forces Helicopter Squadron, namely the 126 Squadron.-History:The base has a...
) - St GeorgeSt George, QueenslandSt George is a town of approximately 2400 people in south-western Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. It was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. At the 2006 census, St George had a population of...
(St George Airport) - CunnamullaCunnamulla, QueenslandCunnamulla is a small town that lies on the Warrego River in south west Queensland, Australia, south of Charleville, and approximately west of the state capital, Brisbane....
(Cunnamulla AirportCunnamulla AirportCunnamulla Airport is an airport in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia. The airport is 6 km from the town.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - ThargomindahThargomindah, Queensland- External links:* * * *...
(Thargomindah AirportThargomindah AirportThargomindah Airport is an airport near Thargomindah, Queensland, Australia....
) - CharlevilleCharleville, QueenslandCharleville is a town in south western Queensland, Australia, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane . It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres...
(Charleville AirportCharleville AirportCharleville Airport is an airport in Charleville, a town in the state of Queensland in Australia.-Airlines and destinations:-History:During World War II, the United States Army Air Force 63d Bombardment Squadron, assigned to the Fifth Air Force 43d Bombardment Group, flew B-17 Flying Fortresses...
) - QuilpieQuilpie, Queensland-External links:* *...
(Quilpie AirportQuilpie AirportQuilpie Airport is an airport serving Quilpie, Queensland, Australia. It is located northwest of Quilpie and operated by the Quilpie Shire Council. The airport received $242,666 for security upgrades from the Australian Government in 2006.-Facilities:...
) - BirdsvilleBirdsville, Queensland-External links:*...
(Birdsville AirportBirdsville AirportBirdsville Airport is an airport serving Birdsville, Queensland, Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - BedourieBedourie, QueenslandBedourie is a small town located in the Channel Country of western Queensland, Australia, lying on Eyre Creek. It is located 1600 kilometres west of the state capital, Brisbane, and 200 kilometres north of Birdsville. At the 2006 census, Bedourie and the surrounding area had a population of 142...
(Bedourie Airport) - BouliaBoulia, QueenslandBoulia is a town in Central West Queensland, Australia. It is located approximately by road south of Mount Isa, and lies on the Burke River, which was named after the explorer Robert O'Hara Burke who passed through the area with the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860. The township was gazetted in...
(Boulia AirportBoulia AirportBoulia Airport is an airport in Boulia, Queensland, Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - Mount Isa (Mount Isa AirportMount Isa AirportMount Isa Airport is an airport serving the western Queensland city of Mount Isa, Australia. It is served by a variety of scheduled regional airlines, with flights to Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns as well as several other regional centres....
)
- Moranbah
Charter Connections for Mining Companies from Townsville to
Osborne, BHP's Cannington, Zinifex
Zinifex
Zinifex was an Australian company which operated two zinc and lead mines, three zinc refineries and a lead smelter. It was created following the insolvency of Pasminco in 2002, taking on Pasminco operations. In 2008 it merged with Oxiana Limited to form OZ Minerals.-History:Zinifex was the...
Century Mine
Fleet
As of January 2009 the Macair Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:- 1 ATR 42-500ATR 42-Civil operators:The largest operators of the ATR-42 are FedEx Express, Airlinair, TRIP Linhas Aéreas,and Mexico City-based Aeromar respectively. Number of aircraft as of 2010:Some 70 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type....
- 2 Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23Fairchild Swearingen MetrolinerThe 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....
- 7 Saab 340Saab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
B (six second generation 340B and one third generation 340B+)