Queensland Government reaffirms commitment to remote air services

Transport Minister John Mickel today reassured people living in areas affected by the formal winding up of MacAir that the Queensland Government remains committed to the provision of reliable, long-term air services to western and inland northern communities.

Receivers Errnst and Young were appointed to handle the finances of MacAir earlier this week and announced today that the company’s business operations had been terminated.

MacAir secured a competitive five-year contract with Queensland Transport in April last year to operate regulated air services to communities across the Northern, Western and Gulf regions, but experienced difficulties in providing the contracted services.

“Queensland Transport is working to re-establish regular passenger air services as soon as possible,” Mr Mickel said.

“Queensland Transport is now moving towards an emergency service contract to ensure air services are provided to communities previously serviced by MacAir.

“A closed tender will be sent to a number of air service operators this afternoon, who have already confirmed their interest, to submit information including aircraft type, subsidy requirements and earliest commencement date for scheduled regular passenger transport services.

“In the meantime Queensland Transport will proceed with the calling of tenders for a new, long-term contract covering the routes and air services in question.”

Mr Mickel said the government was urgently seeking clarification about the impact on MacAir’s 200 employees and their future employment prospects in the region.

It was hoped that the establishment of an interim service provider would offer opportunities to absorb some of the affected personnel.

“The government has acted promptly to organise the charter flights, and has committed to keep them operating until new longer term arrangements can be put in place,” Mr Mickel said.

“Temporary ticketing arrangements are in place so that people without pre-booked tickets wishing to travel on the government-contracted MacAir routes can make their journey.

“Queensland Transport has made arrangements with local authorities in the areas covered by the MacAir western and inland northern services so that they can issue and receive payment for tickets, based on the average fare applying.”

Queensland Transport has finalised flight timetables for interim charter service provider SkyTrans through to Tuesday 10 February. The timetables are posted on the Queensland Transport website.

“The government’s priority is to ensure a continuation of the air services in question, and to put in place the necessary arrangements on the ground so that people needing to catch flights are able to do so,” Mr Mickel said.

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