Sky Trans

This Queensland owned and operated brand, Skytrans Airlines is a Cairns-based airline and air charter service. The airline operates Cairns, Horn Island and Brisbane RPT and charter services. With its regional offices in Townsville, Brisbane and Horn Island, the company has a head office in Cairns.

The airlines has over its glorious thirty years of existence and operations been transporting thousands of passengers year on year along with carrying nearly 300,000 kilos of freight over the past year itself. In January 2000, Peter Collings, pilot and airline expert, launched West Wing Aviation and operated it as a leading regional passenger. It provides both mail and charter airline services to its customers without any hassle. Both Skytrans as well as the West Wing Aviation services are renowned and best known to having a distinguished and notable history in Queensland.

History

Founded in October of 1990, Skytrans started operating as a charter airline wherein it scheduled flights from 1993. It was founded by David and Sue Barnard and has seen its share of structural and operational changes over the thirty years of its existence. ?This started with merger with AirSwift Aviation in year 2000, which is another small-scale airline. Later in the year 2001, the brand collaborated with Mac Air Airlines and from then it started by taking over services to Karumba and Cooktown. Further, to deal with competition with Qantas Link, the airline started operating via its own terminals in the Cairns to Townsville route.

In a major move in 2006, the airline and Queensland regional airlines merged under a shared brand name Skytrans. By the end of 2014, the carrier tried to cut costs at slashing its 200-employee staff by more than half while cutting its seven Dash 8-100s and three Dash 8-300s fleet.

When placed in voluntary administration, Skytrans suspended operations with effect from 2 January 2015. On 31 March 2015 however, coming under the umbrella of Collings Holdings Airlines operated by Peter Collings, Skytrans returned to the skies.

Leadership

Mr. Peter Collings is the owner of the Group Sky Trans. Under his relentless passion and vigour the airlines has been reaching new heights. Peter is a proud Queenslander who has 25 years as a commercial pilot and also is an accomplished airline operator in the aviation industry. Johnathan Thurston, who is known to be Peter?s friend purchased Skytrans in March 2015 in a rescue buyout. In just over a year, Peter has, with a very targeted strategy, ?presented the tactical growth that Skytrans has achieved great success.

Jonathan who is known to be the greatest NRL player has been the part of team SkyTrans for over 4 years now and is active and stays involved in the SkyTrans business by acting as the Skytrans Community ambassador which is a part of his portfolio.

Stuart Dechan, who is the CEO for the group remains equally active in innovation, strategy as well as community engagement. He has been driving the group for its greater success.

Vision

The SkyTrans airlines has been taking to the skies with pride and passion every day since the day of inception. With new owners since 2015 there is a visibly strong leadership that is striving to take it further. They also boast of a skilled and hospitable crew that strives to please and make their passengers feel at home. Their fleet of aircraft boasts both turbo jet engines, air conditioning, comfortable seats and generous freight capabilities. It is evident that the airlines want to provide the best services to their passengers.

Fair scheme

This is quite clear in their fair scheme as well. The Local Fare Scheme is an airfare discount of up to four hundred dollars. This is available for return air travel operated from designated airports in Cape York and the Torres Strait. It can be availed by participating airlines and local councils alike. The agenda of this scheme is to improve the standard of living in cut off and secluded parts in the Far North of Queensland by trying to reduce the costs involved in air travel. At least for qualifying residents it is a relief and an advantage if they choose their travel to and from the designated and pre decided airports.

The scheme enables eligible residents to move more frequently through financial assistance, enabling social and recreational benefits that will in turn help boost the local economy.

Eligible residents are those who can demonstrate that they have spent at least three years living locally. To compensate for the airfare discount, residents must apply through their local council for a letter of eligibility. It is necessary to book airfares booked under the scheme through a local ticketing agent.

Their services include daily flights to the Cape York (five days in the week) and Torres Strait Islands (six days in the week) from Cairns. They also have Mail Runs, Charter Flights and Cargo. You can sit back and relax and enjoy their daily freshly made snacks while you are served with poise by a very welcoming staff.

Fleet

Skytrans proudly operates an extensive fleet of turbine aircrafts which consist of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 and Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.

De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 ? Having a seating capacity for 36 passengers at a time, there are four of these that the brand owns and operates. The Dash 8 has many features that differentiate it from its size from other aircraft. This high-wing, twin turboprob aircraft can be configured to 36, 28, or 20 passenger seats to allow a variety of combinations of passenger and/or freight. The aircraft are also fitted with auxiliary power units, which provide an air-conditioned atmosphere for greater passenger comfort and keep the cargo cool.

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan ? This aircraft has a seating capacity of 9 passengers and there are six of these in their fleet. For its reliable and efficient performance, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is renowned. The Grand Caravan is an ideal machine for the challenging North Queensland environment with the safety and reliability of a turboprop engine, allowing access to short, rough airstrips and providing high payloads.