Alliance to add three Fokker aircraft to local operations

A file image of Alliance Fokker 100 VH-XWQ. (Dave Parer)

Alliance Airlines says it is adding three aircraft to its local operations in order to take advantage of market opportunities.

The company said one Fokker 70 and one Fokker 100 from the 21 aircraft Alliance purchased from Austrian Airlines in late 2015 would join the fleet, while another Fokker 70 currently in storage would be activated.

In November 2015, Alliance said it had acquired the entire Austrian Fokker fleet of 15 Fokker 100s and six Fokker 70s as part of a US$15 million deal that also resulted in the Lufthansa-owned subsidiary being a 12 per cent shareholder in the company.

At the time, Alliance said the transaction would help it diversity its operations into Europe, as well as secure a cost-effective long-term supply of parts for its all-Fokker fleet.

“Whilst not originally intended for the Australasian operation, market opportunities consisting of existing and future FIFO contracts, general and tourism charter services and geographic expansion has led to this amended strategy,” Alliance said in a statement on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Alliance said it had purchased 16 Rolls Royce Tay 625-15 engines from KLM Cityhopper, which would be used as spare engines and spare parts for its Fokker 70 fleet or on sold. The engines would be delivered over the next two years.

“This is the largest single global inventory of these engines and will provide additional opportunities to support the company’s Fokker 70 fleet, lower operating costs and open opportunities to continue to develop the sales of parts to other Fokker operators,” Alliance said.

In addition to its fly-in/fly-out and charter work, Alliance also does some wet lease flying including for Virgin Australia on the Brisbane-Emerald route.