Skywest (Australian airline)

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Skywest Airlines
IATA
XR
ICAO
OZW
Callsign
OZWEST
Founded 1963
Fleet size 6 Fokker F50
3 Fokker F100 aircraft
Destinations Frequent destinations include: Albany, Argyle, Broome, Carnarvon, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Leinster, Leonora, Newman and Port Hedland
Headquarters Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Key people
Website: http://www.skywest.com.au

Skywest is a regional airline based in Perth, Australia servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia.

Contents

[edit] History

Skywest began service in 1963 as Carnarvon Air Taxis. The airline was owned by Ansett Australia, operating flights on their behalf, until Ansett's demise in 2002. Skywest was then successfully purchased by private investors. In 2004 it was the subject of a hostile takeover attempt by a Singapore-based private equity fund, which succeeded in gaining a majority stake.

Skywest F100 VH-FNY at Busselton Airport 2004.
Enlarge
Skywest F100 VH-FNY at Busselton Airport 2004.

[edit] Fleet

Skywest currently operates a combined fleet of six Fokker 50 and three Fokker 100 aircraft which are utilised for scheduled services as well as a range of charter requirements.

Skywest has recently announced the lease of four 180-seat A320s from Icelandic transport group Avion, which will mainly be used on fly-in/fly-out charter work.(October 2006 Australian Aviation Magazine)

[edit] Services

[edit] Scheduled Passenger Services

Skywest Airlines flys to most regional Western Australian airports. This includes: Albany, Argyle, Broome, Carnarvon, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra, Leinster, Leonora, Newman and Port Hedland. The Airline also provides domestic services to Darwin NT.

[edit] Charter Services

In a charter capacity, Skywest flies to Denpasar in Bali. Skywest has also leased one of its Fokker F100s, VH-FNY, to Alliance Airlines from Brisbane on a number of occasions.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links