Skywest Ltd will end its Perth-Karratha service on Friday, after being unable to attract the 30 per cent of the mining market necessary for it to remain viable.
Skywest Ltd will end its Perth-Karratha service on Friday, after being unable to attract the 30 per cent of the mining market necessary for it to remain viable.
However, the company has announced a new jet schedule between Perth and Port Hedland, and has purchased another Fokker 50 Aircraft to service growth within the existing coastal network of Western Australia.
Skywest will be de-listed from the ASX in a few days, following the takeover issued by CaptiveVision Capital Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore based Advent Air Ltd, earlier this year.
The full text of an announcement from the company is pasted below
From 18 September, Skywest will introduce a new jet schedule aimed at meeting the demands of the corporate and mining sector between Perth and Port Hedland.
The new jet services will include direct flights during peak times and a same-day business trip return schedule to Port Hedland on Tuesdays. Port Hedland to Broome connections will be offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Skywest will also continue to provide jet links between Broome, Port Hedland and Bali to service the local commuity and meet growing demand.
Skywest chief executive Johanna Ramsay said that in servicing the new routes, Skywest would be withdrawing its services to Karratha.
"We have made efforts to retain our Karratha service, but have been unable to capture an adequate portion of the local corporate clients in order to sustain a viable service to Karratha. Furthe to this, we have an obligation to respond to market demand in other parts of the state," she said.
Skywest will end its services to Karratha on September 15. All passengers booked will receive full refunds from Skywest. These passengers will be advised directly in the next few days, or may contact their travel agency.
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd has today purchased another Fokker 50 Aircraft. The addition of this plane will increase the Skywest Airlines Fokker 50 fleet to 6 aircraft. The new aircraft will be deployed in service later this month. This fleet expansion is in order to service current growth within the existing coastal network of Western Australia, in addition to providing support for mining and resource based charter customers.
Carnarvon, Geraldton and Exmouth are under active consideration for increased services.
With the addition of this aircraft, Skywest's fleet comprises six Fokker 50 and three Fokekr 100 jet. Skywest recently announced that it had entered into a profit sharing agreement involving the deployment with Avion Group of Iceland for up to a further 4 Airbus A320 aircraft.
Skywest will consider adding further to the fleet as and when commercial demand provides the opportunity. Skywest is particularly interested in developing further resource sector charter and RPT services in Western Australia.
