Qantas and Virgin share Rio Tinto contract

Qantas and Virgin Australia have both signed contracts with resources giant Rio Tinto to provide air travel services for its workforce.

Following the release of an RFP for air travel services in February this year, Qantas has signed a three year contract with Rio Tinto for its Australian and international operations, particularly in resource rich Western Australia through its subsidiary, Network Aviation. Qantas has been a preferred tenderer to Rio for more than a decade.

For Virgin Australia, the deal is the first time it has secured such a contract with Rio.

“This is an outstanding achievement for our airline and we look forward to providing Rio Tinto with the best possible service,” Virgin Australia General Manager of Sales Justin Montgomery said in a statement. “We are committed to expanding our network to further support Rio Tinto in their air travel program objectives and we will continue to look at opportunities as part of the relationship.”