Skytrans chief executive Simon Wild is confident there will be new opportunities for the airline after losing three Queensland government contracts.
The regional carrier, which operates a mix of regular public transport, fly-in/fly-out and charter flights, failed to retain its three contracts for Queensland regulated air routes when the results on the tender were announced on Wednesday.
It lost all three routes to Regional Express, which now has five Queensland government contracts. QantasLink retained its two contracts.
Skyrans will end the Brisbane-Toowoomba-St George-Cunnamulla-Thargomindah route, the Brisbane-Toowoomba-Charleville-Quilpie-Windorah-Birdsville-Bedourie-Boulia-Mount Isa route and the Cairns-Normanton-Mornington Island-Burketown-Doomadgee-Mount Isa service at the end of December.
Wild says while it was disappointing to miss out on the tender, he respects the decision.
“It was a contract that used two aircraft so we will be looking to reallocate those resources into other areas,” he said on Thursday.
“One of our highest priorities will be about making sure we have other work there that can use those resources, especially human resources.”
Skytrans employed about 220 people and had eight aircraft in its fleet of 36- and 50-seat Dash 8s.
Wild said he will talk with staff next week about the best way forward once the contract concludes.
“We will continue to serve up in the far north. We know there is opportunities to build our business in the far north and we also know there are opportunities in South East Queensland as well, both in charters and contracts,” Wild said.
“Aircraft are very mobile so opportunities aren’t always on your back door. Sometimes you have to look a little bit further and that may mean you need to reallocate aircraft and people.”
