Katter says Dash 8 aircraft more suited to North Queensland

Mount Isa MP Robbie Katter has thrown his hat in with North Queensland-based carrier Skytrans to operate subsidised air routes in northwest Queensland.

MOUNT Isa MP Robbie Katter has thrown his hat in with North Queensland-based carrier Skytrans to operate subsidised air routes in northwest Queensland.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has invited tenders for the provision of regional air services and Skytrans is vying for five routes including three in North Queensland.

The Wagga Wagga-based Regional Express airlines currently operates the northern routes.

Mr Katter, the Member for the State seat of Traeger, said performance standards had dropped with the operation of Regional Express’s Saab 340 aircraft and community support had diminished.

“Skytrans has always been a strong performer in terms of community contribution. They have the right aircraft with the Dash 8.”

Mr Katter said there had been problems with operating the Saab aircraft in the hot conditions in western Queensland.

Skytrans has confirmed it is vying for five regulated routes.

These include the key northern routes between Townsville-Winton-Longreach and Townsville-Hughenden-Richmond-Julia Creek-Mount Isa and the Gulf route between Cairns-Normanton-Karumba-Mornington Island-Burketown-Doomadgee-Mount Isa.

Skytrans is also challenging for the western routes of Brisbane-Toowoomba-St George-Cunnamulla-Thargomindah and Brisbane-Toowoomba-Charleville-Quilpie-Windorah-Birdsville-Bedourie-Boulia-Mount Isa.

Skytrans owners Peter Collings and NRL star Johnathan Thurston. Photo: Skytrans

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said Skytrans was proud to put forward its proposal to better service regional and remote destinations.

“Serving regional and remote Queenslanders with reliable passenger and freight services is in our DNA,” Mr Milne said.

Mr Milne said Skytrains had played an integral role in fast-tracking the rollout of the Covid vaccine to the Torres Strait by offering free freight for the vaccines and heavily discounted rates for Queensland Health staff and other medical equipment.

Townsville-based Skytrans chairman 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.

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

Tenders for the services close on August 9 and take effect next year.

Regional Express has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Katter says Dash 8 aircraft more suited to North Queensland