Qantas acquisition brings exposure to FIFO air charter market

QANTAS has bought West Australia-based air charter operator Network Aviation, giving it a key opportunity in the resources boom.

QANTAS has bought West Australia-based air charter operator Network Aviation, giving it a key opportunity in the resources boom.

The international carrier today said the deal gave it exposure to the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) air charter market and the acquisition presented strong growth opportunities amid that state's mining boom.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said: “This is an important market, and a growth market, and Qantas will now become a key player in meeting the needs of the resources sector,'

“This is very much a strategic acquisition and an exciting growth opportunity for Qantas.”

Network Aviation, which has two 100-seat Fokker 100s and six 30-seat Embraer Brasilia EMB-120ERs in its fleet, would retain its management, employees and operating structure, Qantas said.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.