Alliance Airlines
An Australian specialist airline providing fly-in fly-out, charter, scheduled, wet-lease and aircraft-leasing services, particularly for the mining and resources sectors.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Alliance Airlines is an Australian specialist aviation operator headquartered at Brisbane Airport in Queensland. Established in 2002, it grew from the acquisition of the air operator’s certificate and assets of dormant regional carrier Flight West by Brisbane-based Queensland Airline Holdings. Alliance began with two Fokker 100 aircraft and developed a business centered on contracted aviation capacity rather than conventional mass-market leisure travel. The company’s principal activity is fly-in fly-out, or FIFO, air transport for Australia’s mining, energy and resources industries. It operates services connecting major cities and regional airports with mine sites and resource projects, including locations in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It also operates selected scheduled passenger routes under its own name, provides private and corporate aircraft charters, and supplies aircraft and crews to other airlines through wet-lease arrangements. Alliance has historically been strongly associated with Fokker regional jets, especially the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100. It later expanded into Embraer 190 aircraft, enabling additional capacity and fleet flexibility. The company’s operational bases include Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Rockhampton and Townsville, in addition to its Brisbane headquarters. Its charter reach extends beyond Australia to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. The airline’s business capabilities include aircraft operations, flight and cabin crew provision, maintenance coordination, aircraft component sales and aircraft leasing. Its wet-lease relationships have included Qantas, which used Alliance Embraer 190 aircraft under the QantasLink brand, and Virgin Australia, which used Alliance Fokker aircraft. Alliance has also supplied aircraft to Airnorth under a dry-lease arrangement. Alliance Aviation Services Limited, the listed corporate group associated with the airline, has traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code AQZ since 2011. Qantas acquired a minority shareholding in Alliance in 2019 and later proposed a full takeover. That proposed transaction was opposed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in 2023 and was subsequently abandoned. Alliance Airlines remains an active independent specialist operator. Its competitive identity rests on contracted resource-sector flying, regional-jet expertise, operational flexibility and the ability to provide aircraft, crews and related aviation services to institutional customers.
History
Alliance Airlines was created in Australia in 2002 after Queensland Airline Holdings acquired the air operator’s certificate and assets of Flight West, a Brisbane-based regional airline that had ceased scheduled operations in 2001. Flight West had been established in 1987, and its acquired operating foundation gave the new company a ready aviation platform. Alliance commenced flying with two Fokker 100 aircraft. The company developed around the needs of Australia’s mining, energy and resources industries. Its core model has been to provide contracted air capacity for fly-in fly-out workforces and remote-area projects, linking metropolitan and regional airports with mine sites and resource facilities. This specialist focus distinguished Alliance from carriers primarily dependent on consumer leisure or broad domestic trunk traffic. In addition to aircraft operations, the company built capabilities in crew provision, maintenance support, charter planning, aircraft leasing and component sales. Alliance expanded its geographic and operational footprint through bases at Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Rockhampton and Townsville, alongside its Brisbane headquarters. It operates both contracted FIFO services and selected scheduled routes, while its private-charter business has served customers across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. The airline has also supplied capacity to other carriers. Wet-lease arrangements have included Embraer 190 operations for QantasLink and Fokker operations for Virgin Australia, while Airnorth has used Alliance aircraft under a dry-lease arrangement. Fokker aircraft became a defining element of Alliance’s fleet. In 2015 the airline announced the acquisition of six Fokker 70s and fifteen Fokker 100s from Austrian Airlines. The Fokker fleet supported the company’s regional, corporate and resources-sector missions and remained central to its operating identity. Alliance subsequently broadened its fleet with Embraer 190 jets. In 2020 it announced plans involving thirty E190 aircraft in two stages; the first aircraft, named Brazilian Lad, arrived at Brisbane Airport in October 2020 and was expected to enter service the following year. The company received several operational and industry recognitions. In 2013 it was identified as the first Australian aircraft operator to attain Flight Safety Foundation BARS Gold status. In 2016 it became the first Australian regional aircraft operator recognised as IOSA certified. CAPA named Alliance Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year in 2018. Alliance Aviation Services Limited, the listed group associated with the airline, joined the Australian Securities Exchange in 2011 under ticker AQZ. Qantas acquired a 19.9 percent interest in the group in 2019. In 2022, the companies announced agreed terms for a proposed Qantas takeover of Alliance. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opposed the transaction in April 2023, and the proposal was subsequently abandoned. The same year Alliance announced a further agreement with AerCap for thirty Embraer 190 aircraft, with deliveries planned from late 2023 through early 2026. Alliance Airlines remains an active Australian specialist operator. Its present identity combines FIFO resource-sector flying, regional scheduled services, charter work, aircraft leasing and wet-lease operations. Fleet composition, route schedules and customer arrangements can change over time and should be checked against current company and regulatory disclosures.
- 2023
Takeover opposed and abandoned
[1]The ACCC opposed the proposed Qantas acquisition, which was later abandoned by the companies.
- 2023
Additional Embraer aircraft agreement
[1]Alliance announced an agreement with AerCap to purchase thirty additional Embraer 190 aircraft for delivery through January 2026.
- 2022
Qantas takeover terms agreed
[1]Alliance and Qantas announced agreed terms for a proposed takeover, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
- 2020
Embraer 190 fleet program announced
[1]Alliance announced acquisitions and orders totaling thirty Embraer 190 aircraft, with the first aircraft arriving in Brisbane in October.
- 2019
Qantas takes a minority stake
[1]Qantas acquired a 19.9 percent shareholding in Alliance Aviation Services.
- 2018
CAPA regional airline award
[1]CAPA named Alliance Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year.
- 2016
IOSA certification
[1]Alliance became the first Australian regional aircraft operator recognised as holding IATA Operational Safety Audit certification.
- 2015
Fokker fleet acquisition
[1]Alliance announced the purchase of six Fokker 70 aircraft and fifteen Fokker 100 aircraft from Austrian Airlines.
- 2013
BARS Gold recognition
[1]Alliance was recognised as the first Australian aircraft operator to attain Flight Safety Foundation BARS Gold status.
- 2011
Alliance Aviation Services becomes ASX-listed
[1]The corporate group associated with Alliance Airlines was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under ticker AQZ.
Products and positioning
A specialist, contract-oriented regional airline and aviation-services provider for mining, resources, corporate and remote-area transport requirements.
Regional jet operations
Fokker 70
The Fokker 70 has been a longstanding regional jet type in Alliance Airlines’ fleet. The aircraft has supported scheduled passenger services, corporate charters, FIFO contracts and other specialist assignments. Alliance’s offering is the managed aviation service rather than the aircraft as a consumer product, combining aircraft operation with qualified crews, maintenance arrangements and flight-management capability.
Regional jet operations
Fokker 100
The Fokker 100 has been one of Alliance’s principal aircraft types since the airline began operations with two examples in 2002. It has been used for resources-sector transport, FIFO services, private charters, wet leases and selected scheduled routes. A major fleet expansion followed Alliance’s 2015 announcement that it would acquire fifteen Fokker 100 aircraft from Austrian Airlines.
Regional jet operations · 2020
Embraer 190
The Embraer 190 became an important part of Alliance’s fleet expansion strategy during the 2020s. The airline announced arrangements for thirty aircraft in 2020 and a further thirty-aircraft purchase agreement with AerCap in 2023. E190s have supported Alliance’s own operations and airline-customer arrangements, including wet-lease flying under the QantasLink brand.
Contract aviation
FIFO mining and resources air services
Alliance provides contracted fly-in fly-out transport for mining, energy and resources projects. Its services connect workers and contractors with remote sites across Australia, including operations associated with locations such as Cannington, Cloncurry, Telfer, Newman, Leonora, Century Mine and The Granites. The network and contracts are subject to customer requirements and operational change.
Aviation leasing and outsourcing
Aircraft wet-lease services
Under wet-lease arrangements, Alliance supplies aircraft together with operating crews and related operational capability to airline customers. Reported examples include Embraer 190 flying for QantasLink and Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 operations for Virgin Australia. This service extends Alliance’s business beyond flights marketed directly under its own name.
Brand decisions
2023
Agree to purchase additional Embraer 190 aircraft from AerCapM&ABackground
Alliance continued its fleet modernization and capacity expansion after the proposed Qantas takeover was blocked.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to purchase thirty Embraer 190 aircraft from AerCap, with planned deliveries from September 2023 to January 2026.
Aftermath
The aircraft were expected to support further operations from Alliance’s Australian bases, including Rockhampton.
2022
Agree terms for a proposed Qantas takeoverM&ABackground
Qantas already held a minority stake in Alliance and sought to acquire the remaining business, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Action taken
Alliance and Qantas announced agreed terms for a proposed takeover.
Aftermath
The ACCC opposed the transaction in April 2023, after which the proposed takeover was abandoned.
- Qantas — Qantas pursued the proposed acquisition but later abandoned it after regulatory opposition.
2020
Introduce and expand the Embraer 190 fleetProduct launchBackground
Alliance sought to broaden its fleet and add capacity suitable for contracted, scheduled and wet-lease operations.
Action taken
It announced an initial acquisition of fourteen Embraer 190 aircraft, followed by an order for sixteen more, for a stated total of thirty aircraft.
Aftermath
The first aircraft arrived in Brisbane in October 2020 and was expected to enter service in February 2021.
2015
Acquire Fokker aircraft from Austrian AirlinesM&ABackground
Alliance required additional regional-jet capacity for its expanding charter, scheduled and resources-sector operations.
Action taken
The company announced the purchase of six Fokker 70s and fifteen Fokker 100s from Austrian Airlines.
Aftermath
The transaction reinforced Fokker aircraft as a central element of Alliance’s fleet and operating model.
Recent events
- 2023
Qantas takeover proposal is opposed by the ACCC and later abandoned[1]
M&A · Regulation
Alliance and Qantas had agreed terms for a proposed takeover, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opposed the transaction in April 2023. The proposed acquisition was subsequently abandoned.
- 2023
Alliance announces purchase of thirty additional Embraer 190 aircraft[1]
M&A · Product generation
Alliance announced an agreement with AerCap to acquire an additional thirty Embraer 190 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between September 2023 and January 2026.
- 2021
Alliance begins expanding Embraer wet-lease operations[1]
Product launch
Alliance’s Embraer 190 aircraft entered a seven-year wet-lease arrangement supporting routes operated under the QantasLink brand.
- 2020
Alliance orders Embraer 190 aircraft[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Alliance announced plans to acquire fourteen Embraer 190 jets and later ordered sixteen additional aircraft, bringing the announced total to thirty. The first aircraft, named Brazilian Lad, arrived in Brisbane in October 2020.
- 2019
Qantas acquires a minority stake in Alliance Aviation Services[1]
M&A
Qantas acquired a 19.9 percent shareholding in Alliance Aviation Services, creating a significant strategic relationship between the two aviation groups.
- 2018
Alliance named CAPA Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year[1]
Other
CAPA awarded Alliance the Asia Pacific Regional Airline of the Year title.
- 2016
Alliance receives IOSA certification[1]
Regulation
Alliance was recognised as the first Australian regional aircraft operator to attain IATA Operational Safety Audit certification.
- 2015
Alliance announces major acquisition of Austrian Airlines Fokker aircraft[1]
M&A · Product generation
The airline announced the purchase of six Fokker 70s and fifteen Fokker 100s from Austrian Airlines, reinforcing its specialist regional-jet fleet.
- 2013
Alliance achieves BARS Gold safety status[1]
Other
Alliance was recognised as the first aircraft operator in Australia to attain Flight Safety Foundation Basic Aviation Risk Standard Gold status.
- 2011
Alliance Aviation Services lists on the Australian Securities Exchange[1]
Other
Alliance Aviation Services Limited became an ASX-listed aviation group associated with Alliance Airlines under ticker AQZ.
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