Rockhampton locals will be able to travel direct to Far North Queensland five times a week

New flight services will provide a much-needed link between Rockhampton and northern tourism centres.

Skytrans announces new flight services

A Queensland-owned company, of which NRL legend Johnathan Thurston is part owner, will offer a new service through Rockhampton five times a week, which could deliver more than 40,000 passengers to Central Queensland per year.

It will link the Beef Capital directly with the Whitsundays and Cairns from which people can travel on to Horn Island and Bamaga.

Skytrans will operate return flights between Cairns-Whitsunday Coast Airport-Rockhampton. These services will depart five times per week and begin on September 13.

Skytrans will also operate return flights between Cairns-Horn Island-Bamaga; these services will also operate five times per week and commence Friday, July 30.

Both services will use the company’s Dash 8-100 aircraft, which has a capacity of up to 36 passengers.

“We’re a Queensland owned company and it’s fantastic that we are flying to even more destinations across our great State,” Skytrans chief executive officer Alan Milne said.

Mr Milne has almost four decades of experience in the aviation industry including 36 years with Qantas and two years at Air Niugini.

Skytrans announces new flight services

Skytrans chairman Mr Peter Collings is one of regional Queensland’s pioneering aviators with decades of experience serving rural and regional communities as the owner of companies including MacAir and West Wing Airlines – which remains in the Skytrans family.

The ownership and management team also includes NRL legend and North Queensland Cowboys premiership hero Johnathan Thurston.

Skytrans now has more than 100 staff, with a head office in Cairns and regional offices in Townsville, Brisbane and Horn Island.

In early 2020, The Morning Bulletin revealed Skytrans was seeking expressions of interest for cabin crew, a contract operations manager and a B1 and B2 licensed aircraft maintenance engineer - the first hint that the airline was bringing its services to the Rockhampton region. 

Mr Milne said “the new services between Cairns-Whitsunday Coast Airport-Rockhampton would position the company to grow strongly as demand picks up”.

“The big winners will be locals who live in Cairns, the Whitsunday region and Rockhampton because they will have additional choice and we are committed to delivering the best service possible for these local communities,” Mr Milne said.

“There’s no doubt that international and domestic tourism has taken a battering because of the pandemic but we believe these routes will be very popular and continue to grow when borders reopen and stay open.”

Mr Milne said the Cairns-Horn Island-Bamaga services added even more focus to Skytrans’ operations in Far North Queensland.

“The major benefit of Skytrans operating to Horn Island will be the seamless connectivity with Skytrans services to the many Torres Strait islands serviced by the wholly Queensland owned airline,” he said.

“Our customers will now have the option to book a through ticket from Thursday Island to Cairns and return in collaboration with our partner Rebel Ferries.

“Flying to Bamaga may only be a short hop but it will provide huge benefits for locals through increased connectivity with Cairns and the Torres Strait islands.

“This service will now officially become the shortest domestic airline flight in Australia.

“We’re thrilled to be able to connect even more regional Queenslanders by flying to Bamaga.

“The new service will also provide addition freight capacity for the Bamaga community, which is a service we are very proud to deliver.”