Doubt over MacAir’s capacity to resume western and northern flights

Receivers for the grounded regional air services operator MacAir Airlines have advised they are doubtful whether flights on State Government-contracted western and northern routes will resume in the coming days.

Transport Minister John Mickel said today the capacity of MacAir to resume its scheduled air services was expected to become clearer over the coming days.

"Queensland Transport has been liaising closely over the weekend with the receivers who were appointed to MacAir on Friday," Mr Mickel said.

"At one stage it had looked like MacAir might be in a position to resume some of the Queensland Government-contracted services by the middle of the week. The latest advice today, however, is that this is now doubtful.

"As a result, Queensland Transport will move ahead with its contingency plans to put charter services into place on five of the Government-regulated routes MacAir operates to western and northern communities."

Mr Mickel said Queensland Transport had organised a charter flight for approximately 10 passengers today in place of MacAir’s cancelled scheduled flight between Brisbane and Thargomindah.

Charter flights had also been organised to cover a number of scheduled MacAir flights on Government-subsidised routes in the coming days.

Queensland Transport will review the requirements for further charter flights once the position of the receiver is clearer. In the meantime, the following arrangements have been planned for the coming days:

Monday

Brisbane to Mount Isa (via Charleville, Quilpie, Windorah, Birdsville, Bedourie and Boulia). Operated as a charter flight with approximately 20 passengers booked - operating to MacAir schedule.

Mount Isa to Cairns return (via Gulf communities Doomadgee, Burketown, Mornington Island, Normanton). Operated as a charter flight with approximately 50 passengers each way - operating to MacAir schedule.

Townsville to Mount Isa return (via Hughenden, Richmond, Julia Creek). Operated as a charter flight with six passengers booked - operating to MacAir schedule.

Tuesday

Mount Isa to Brisbane (via Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville, Windorah, Quilpie, Charleville). Operated as a charter flight - operating to MacAir schedule.

Townsville to Longreach (via Winton) return. Charter flight yet to be confirmed. However, it is planned to operate to the MacAir schedule.

Cairns to Mount Isa one way (via Gulf communities Normanton, Mornington Island, Burketown, Doomadgee). Charter flight yet to be confirmed.

Wednesday

Arrangements for services from Wednesday will be confirmed early in the week.

Mr Mickel said the State Government was not organising charter flights in place of cancelled services on MacAir’s commercial routes. Passengers booked on these services are advised to contact MacAir or the receiver directly from Monday.

A special hotline (available 7 days from 8am to 6pm), 1800 139 869, has been established to provide information for MacAir passengers travelling on Queensland Government-contracted western and northern routes.

Media contact: 3237 1944

Sunday 1 February 2009