CQ Plane Spotting Historic Spot - Alliance Airlines

Alliance Airlines is one of Australia's (possibly the) pre-eminent dedicated Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) aircraft charter operator in Australia, specialising in operations on behalf of the Resource Industry.

Alliance Airlines was established in 2002 when Brisbane-based Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the assets of the dormant Flight West Airlines, which had been established in May 1987 and was liquidated in 2001 (see our Historic Spot from last month - LINK HERE).

Alliance commenced operations with two Fokker 100 - VH-FWH and VH-FWI - and two Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias - VH-TLZ and VH-XFZ - servicing two FIFO contracts, both of which are still serviced today.

Over the years Alliance has since expanded its fleet and operational capabilities to service the growing demand from the mining and energy sector. They acquired several second-hand Fokker 100 twinjets from the United States of America (USA), with most of these being delivered to Brisbane wearing an American registration and old US Airways colour scheme.

ex-US Air F-100 N892US which became VH-FKJ

ex-US Airways F-100 N895US which became VH-FKL and is currently stored at Brisbane Airport

ex-US Airways F-100 N885US which became VH-FKA operating for Alliance in hybrid colour scheme

Later, Alliance took delivery of yet more Fokker 100s this time from Germany - with VH-XWS photographed in its old Germania colour scheme at Brisbane Airport in 2011.

Nowadays, Alliance currently operates 17 Fokker 100 Twinjet aircraft in a 100-seat, all economy class configuration, as well as 7 Fokker 70LR (Long Range) Twinjet aircraft in a 75-seat all economy class configuration.

F-70 VH-QQX at Emerald Airport  (File Photo)

The latest additions to their fleet, the Alliance Fokker 70's are being introduced to cater for the rapid expansion in the resources sector. The long range capability of the aircraft will enable the delivery of direct services from the east coast to W.A. mine sites, bypassing Perth - for example Brisbane to Telfer, or Brisbane to The Granites.

Recently acquired F-70 VH-JFB at Emerald Airport  (File photo)

These jet aircraft are complemented by six Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft in a 52 seat, all economy configuration.  VH-FKY is pictured below at Biloela / Thangool Airport on FIFO duties in July this year (File photo by Jamie C)

Alliance also currently operates one Regular Public Transport (RPT) Flight between Perth and Karatha in West Australia utilising Boeing B737-400 ZK-JTQ which is leased from Airwork (New Zealand).

Alliance Airlines is also well known for operating scheduled flights for both Qantas (QantasLink) and Virgin Australia throughout regional Queensland and New South Wales.

All-white F-100 VH-XWS at Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport operating for Virgin Australia in early 2013

Alliance Airlines is wholly owned by Alliance Aviation Services Limited and has around 450 employees.  Steve Padgett who is chairman, is part owner with Stephen Bond and Hugh Jones, chief executive of New Zealand based Airwork.  Their headquarters and maintenance hangar are located at Brisbane Airport, and Alliance also has bases in Townsville, Cairns, Perth and Adelaide.