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
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