MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd[1] 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 Airport, with hubs at Cairns, Brisbane and Mount Isa.[2]
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 operated under the MacAir name. In November 2003 MacAir acquired Horizon Airlines. 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 Government of Queensland for a $7 million one-off ex gratia payment, but the government refused, saying that MacAir had "systemic issues."[3] On 6 February, the business was closed by the receiver and its 200 employees dismissed.[4] The administrator wound up the business and sold off the company's assets; however the airline only owned a single aircraft as the others were all leased, as were the ground installations.[3]
Destinationsedit
At the end of January 2009 MacAir operated to the following scheduled destinations:[5]
^ abc. The Courier Mail. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009.
^"Regional carrier MacAir shut down with loss of 200 jobs". The Courier-Mail. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
^ ab(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
^Australian civil aircraft register search, using "Macair" as the search parameter. Search conducted 21 January 2009. 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
^"ATR 42/72 in Macair Airlines history". Airfleets.net. from the original on 31 July 2013.
^ abInquiry into commercial regional aviation services in Australia, Submission No. 76. House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services. 30 August 2002. Page 3
^"Saab 340 in Macair Airlines history". Airfleets.net. from the original on 31 July 2013.
^"Macair Airlines Fleet Details and History". planespotters.net. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macair Airlines.
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MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd 1 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 Airport with hubs at Cairns Brisbane and Mount Isa 2 MacAir AirlinesIATA ICAO Callsign CC MCK MACAIRFounded2000Ceased operationsJanuary 2009HubsBrisbane AirportCairns AirportTownsville AirportFleet size10Destinations29HeadquartersTownsville Queensland AustraliaKey peopleTerry Byrt Owner In January 2009 the airline was placed in receivership 3 Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 3 Fleet 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editMacAir 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 operated under the MacAir name In November 2003 MacAir acquired Horizon Airlines 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 nbsp Macair Airlines Fairchild SA227 AC Metro III at Sydney Airport 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 amp Young as receivers and the airline ceased operations MacAir had previously asked the Government of Queensland for a 7 million one off ex gratia payment but the government refused saying that MacAir had systemic issues 3 On 6 February the business was closed by the receiver and its 200 employees dismissed 4 The administrator wound up the business and sold off the company s assets however the airline only owned a single aircraft as the others were all leased as were the ground installations 3 Destinations editAt the end of January 2009 MacAir operated to the following scheduled destinations 5 From Townsville to Mount Isa Cloncurry Winton Longreach Moranbah Mackay 6 Emerald 6 Brisbane Hughenden Richmond Julia Creek From Cairns to Mount Isa Normanton Mornington Burketown Doomadgee Pormpuraaw Kowanyama From Brisbane to Moranbah Townsville Oakley St George Cunnamulla Thargomindah Charleville Quilpie Birdsville Bedourie Boulia Mount Isa Charter connections for mining companies from Townsville to Osborne Mine Airport Cannington Mine BHP Century Airport MMG Fleet editOver time the Macair Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft 7 1 ATR 42 500 8 8 Fairchild SA227 DC Metro 23 9 7 Saab 340B six second generation 340B and one third generation 340B 10 2 de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter 9 Cessna 208 Caravan 1 British Aerospace Jetstream 41 11 See also editList of defunct airlines of AustraliaReferences edit Current details for MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd Australian Business Number Lookup 12 August 2009 Archived from the original on 31 July 2013 Directory World Airlines Flight International 10 April 2007 p 46 a b c Airline passengers stranded The Courier Mail 30 January 2009 Archived from the original on 31 January 2009 Regional carrier MacAir shut down with loss of 200 jobs The Courier Mail 5 February 2009 Archived from the original on 30 December 2012 What to look for when checking credit history reports PDF Archived from the original PDF on 31 July 2013 Retrieved 22 June 2008 a b What to look for when checking credit history reports PDF Archived from the original PDF on 31 July 2013 Retrieved 7 October 2008 Australian civil aircraft register search using Macair as the search parameter Search conducted 21 January 2009 Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine ATR 42 72 in Macair Airlines history Airfleets net Archived from the original on 31 July 2013 a b Inquiry into commercial regional aviation services in Australia Submission No 76 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services 30 August 2002 Page 3 Saab 340 in Macair Airlines history Airfleets net Archived from the original on 31 July 2013 Macair Airlines Fleet Details and History planespotters net 4 August 2015 Retrieved 6 October 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macair Airlines Portals nbsp Australia nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MacAir Airlines amp oldid 1105404622 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
