Alliance Airlines Additional Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) Charter Flights to Emerald and Moranbah Airports This Week

With the effects of the Coronavirus crisis hitting aviation hard causing Australian airlines to dramatically cut scheduled regular passenger transport (RPT) services, Central Queensland mining and resource sites are appear to be moving towards dedicated Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) charter flights as an alternative.  And it appears that Australia's largest FIFO and general charter airline, Alliance Airlines, has benefited with several extra flights noted touching down in the region over the last couple of days.

File photo

Late on Monday 30 March, three Alliance Airlines Fokker F-70 jets were noted arriving into Emerald Airport all on FIFO charter flights.  VH-NKQ operated the 'usual' UTY4078/9 flight from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.  VH-QQW completed an additional flight from and back to Brisbane as UTY4076/7.  And VH-NUU (pictured above) completed another additional flight from Brisbane and back but as UTY580/1.

Early on Tuesday 31 March, VH-NKQ was back at Emerald Airport again, operating the 'usual' UTY4072/3 FIFO charter flight from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.  Then later in the day, F-70 VH-QQV was noted arriving into Moranbah Airport and then Emerald Airport from Brisbane as UTY6602, while F-70 VH-NUU flew into Emerald Airport direct from Brisbane but as UTY6640.

After overnighting, both F-70s departed Emerald Airport early on Wednesday 1 April, with VH-QQV returning to Moranbah Airport and then Brisbane but as UTY6603, while VH-NUU returned to Brisbane but as UTY6441.

Certainly interesting to keep track of these!

Photo taken by Sunshine Coast Plane Spotting  ©