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
Transtate Airlines. The two brands were merged and operate under the MacAir
name. In November 2003, MacAir acquired Horizon Airlines. MacAir 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 and northern New South Wales.
MacAir was based in Townsville, and staff were based in Townsville,
Cairns, Mount Isa and Brisbane.
MacAir originally commenced operations flying charters for the
mining developments that took place at the time in Western Queensland and, as
the mines grew, so too did MacAir. Most
of the mines operated under a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) staffing arrangement,
whereby management and crew that live elsewhere (mainly in coastal cities) fly
in to the mine site to complete their working roster.
In 1998, MacAir introduced regular passenger transport (RPT)
services on regional routes in Northern Queensland. One of the busiest routes in MacAir’s RPT
network of eventually 34 routes throughout regional Queensland and New South
Wales, was the link between Townsville and Mount Isa. MacAir serviced the route 32 times each week,
with most of the flights being operated by their ATR 42-500, and others by their
SAAB 340s (both types are pictured at Townsville Airport below). MacAir offered full cabin service on this 2-hour sector.
As the airline grew so did MacAir’s reputation for
delivering safe, efficient, friendly, and cost effective air services to its
clients, through its focus on customer service and its ability to identify and
meet its customers’ needs in a timely manner.
As MacAir grew and opened more routes throughout regional
Queensland, the airline secured several Queensland Government (Queensland Transport)
contracts to operate subsidised air services to communities across the
northern, western and gulf regions of Queensland.
One such sector I took in the 2007 was
from Townsville to Winton to Longreach and return in Metro 23 VH-UUB.
However, MacAir started running into operational problems,
with the Queensland Government receiving numerous complaints about delayed
flights, cancellations or even the non-arrival of some scheduled flights. MacAir itself even expressed concerns over
fulfilling all of its services adequately.
The situation eventually came to a head when the Government announced
MacAir would vary its contract with the Queensland Transport, meaning a new
open tender for several of the air services that MacAir flew would be called.
This signalled the beginning of the end for Macair and at
the end of January in 2009, Macair went in voluntary administration. The
administrators for MacAir asked the government for a one-off $7 million
payment, not linked to performance, which was refused. The company was wound up shortly after.
Ex-MacAir ATR 42-500 VH-UYJ is pictured parked at Cairns Airport being prepared for its eventual export to Norway.
Destinations At the end of January 2009 - MacAir operated to
the following scheduled destinations -
From Townsville to: Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Winton, Longreach, Moranbah, Brisbane,
Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek.
From Cairns to: Mount Isa, Normanton, Mornington Island, Burketown, Doomadgee,
Pormpuraaw (Edward River), Kowanyama.
From Brisbane to: Moranbah, Townsville, Oakey, St George, Cunnamulla, Thargomindah,
Charleville, Quilpie, Birdsville, Bedourie, Boulia, Mount Isa.
Also charter connections for mining companies from Townsville to: Osborne, BHP's Cannington, Zinifex Century Mine
As of January 2009 the Macair Airlines fleet consists of the
following aircraft: 1 ATR 42-500, 2 Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23, 7 Saab 340B (six second generation 340B and one third
generation 340B+).
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