Airwork wins Aussie deal to fly Toll freight
A report in www.stuff.co.nz says that New Zealand aviation company Airwork will launch a freight airline in Australia at the end of the month, apparently beating Virgin Blue to the deal.
The airline, using three Boeing 737s, will fly freight throughout Australia for listed logistics company Toll Holdings, which in New Zealand owns Toll Rail and the Cook Strait Interislander.
Airwork managing director Hugh Jones said the company was to sign the final regulatory documents yesterday.
Two of the 737-300s were due to arrive in the next few days from the United States, with one has been converted from a passenger jet and the other has been modified.
The aircraft would be owned by Airwork, Mr Jones said.
It already owns a 737-200. Two will be based in Brisbane and another in Perth.
Mr Jones said the multimillion-dollar venture was a “huge” commitment for the company, but would not say how much the contract was worth.
In November Toll managing director Paul Little said Virgin Blue, of which Toll owns 62 per cent, would play a pivotal role in the company’s air freight strategy.
In February Toll said it expected to conclude a freight alliance with Virgin Blue soon.
Toll was to have purchased dedicated aircraft for Virgin Blue, in a deal that would also have improved the use of the airline’s cargo holds on passenger services.
The aircraft had been expected to start flying this month.
But Mr Jones said Virgin Blue was not involved in the venture.
Airwork has extensive freight, charter and helicopter operations in New Zealand, including a contract to move mail for New Zealand Post. It also has engineering and training operations.
Airwork owns a stake in Australian charter airline Alliance Airlines, which specialises in transporting miners, flying a fleet of 100-seat Fokker 100 jets from its base in Brisbane.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025