Skytrans Airlines New Airbus A319-112 VH-L7A Makes First Visit to Central Queensland at Mackay Airport

On Saturday 28 December, a nice first-time visitor into Central Queensland was Skytrans Airlines recently delivered Airbus A319-112 VH-L7A which was spotted on the ground at Mackay Airport.

It was completing its second test and training flight since being delivered and it touched down at Mackay Airport from Brisbane and Cairns as SKP451/2. It looked to complete training on the ground with local ground handlers and later departed back to Brisbane as SKP453.

The 22.5-year-old A319-112 was delivered to Skytrans Airlines in Brisbane as LY-FAB early on Monday 16 December as MVE9771. It is now owned by Skytrans' parent company Avia Solutions Group (ASG) and will launch its wet-leasing operations. Prior to that, the aircraft was operated in Italy Alitalia / ITA Airways as I-BIMJ / EI-IMJ.

ASG and Skytrans are in talks with several interested airlines and expect the A319 to be up and running by the middle of January, with a second and third aircraft to arrive early next year. ASG, which bought Skytrans earlier this year with an eye to using its valuable Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) to start wet-leasing operations in Australia, has plans for up to 18 aircraft in the country. They currently operate a global fleet of 221 aircraft.

Photos taken by 'AC'  ©