Airlines chase share of FIFO boom

CobhamQantas is the latest company to jump on the FIFO bandwagon as the phenomenon looks internationally following the latest moves to import workers from overseas for mining.


The $6.4 billion Alpha coal project west of Rockhampton is the first of nine proposed mines in central Queensland to be assessed by the state government. Indian company GVK and Gina Rinehart's Hancock Coal are planning to begin construction next year, after being granted conditional approval by the state government for the mine this week.
More than 3500 workers will be needed during construction and almost 1000 once the mine is operating.
Gina Rinehart has also gained Gillard government permission to import 1700 foreign workers for Hancock's Roy Hill iron ore project in Western Australia.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline would be ready when it came to new routes and cited the service to Mt Newman due to start next month as an example. Qantas recently acquired Perth-based FIFO operator Network Aviation and has secured a $35 million contract to service Fortescue Metals' operations.
Fortescue told the federal inquiry on FIFO recently that it would save $33 million each year if it switched its 330 residential workers in Port Hedland to fly-in fly-out workers.
Network was looking for more Fokker 100 jets to expand from six to ten by the end of the year.
By 2015 the WA resources industry is expected to employ about 110,000 people, with about 57% of these - or 63,500 workers - on FIFO rosters.
The Pilbara Development Commission is concerned the mining industry's monopoly on hotel accommodation is holding back tourism in the region. It has brought in consultants to look at the current state of short-stay accommodation in the region and what can be done to free-up hotel and motel rooms for tourists.
Tourism operators in Mount Isa say the costly housing market means many mining workers opt to live semi-permanently in caravan parks, making tourist accommodation hard to find.
The Gold Coast is confident of securing a fly-in, fly-out service with a major airline with stakeholders quietly confident as talks with an airline well advanced.
Earlier this month Sunshine Coast Airport secured a FIFO deal with Rio Tinto for four charter flights a week to Clermont, in central Queensland.
Cobham Aviation Services has also extended its FIFO service contract with energy company Santos to the remote Cooper Basin area until 2018, securing a six year contract valued at over $50 million. The contract will see one of Australia's newest Avro RJ100 jets fly weekly from Adelaide to Santos' gas facilities at Moomba and Ballera, 800km northeast of Adelaide.
A new air charter company, JetGo Australia, says it received the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's green light on last week and will start flying for the fly-in fly-out market in early June. Chief executive Jason Ryder says the company's on-demand service will free miners from the restrictions of airline schedules.
It has one 36-seat Embraer jet in operation and four more on order from Brazil. Sydney-based JetGo services the Bowen Basin, Cloncurry, Weipa, Groote Eylandt and Mount Isa.

Top Industry Articles

PR scandal hits Accor

an51-4-news-peter hook
Accor's director of communications, Peter Hook, has been ordered on a leave of absence…

Online booking agent in administration

SimonIsaacs-check in
Check-in.com.au was placed into administration on 21 May.

Court rules for short stays

AN51-5-Docklands Executive Apart-ments - Copy
The Victoria Supreme Court has awarded victory to operators Docklands Executive…

Jobs will go following wage increase

Cash
The accommodation industry has been hit with another whopping blow as the country's…

Countdown to new rules for bunk bed safety

Bunk Beds
The Office of Fair Trading is warning owners of short-term rental accommodation to check…

Not good for Qantas

Qantas Emirates Alliance
The Emirates-Qantas alliance has got off to a bad start for the Australian partner, with…

Strata communities to benefit from state budget

Queensland Government Logo
In anticipation of the state budget release, there are many expectations for the property…

HotelsCombined names 2013 Stellar Stays

AN51-4-news-IC-Melbourne-The-Rialto
HotelsCombined, the world's leading hotel discovery and price comparison website, has…

Good manners to make the most of Chinese tourist boom

Chinese Tourist Map
Sydney businesses will get a lesson in good manners this month to help them make the most…

“Legal action” - all those in favour say “why”

Legal Concept
I was recently involved in a New South Wales matter where an executive committee had…

ARAMA to look at 30 year plan

Long Term Growth
The challenges and opportunities facing the accommodation and housing industries…

Cost of labour reduces employment

an-ind-hotelstaff
Almost half of Australia's accommodation industry has reduced staffing levels as a direct…

Investment continues to drive growth in tourism industry

Austalian Flag Globe
Investment in Australian tourism infrastructure demonstrates strong growth according to a…

Panasonic introduces world’s smallest 12,000-lumen projectors

Panasonic-PT DZ13K-Series
Panasonic Australia has announced the arrival of powerful 3-chip DLP projectors that are…

New head at SilverNeedle

an-ind-sliverneedle
SilverNeedle Hospitality has announced the appointment of its new executive vice…

Hotels cash in on rugby tourists

Lions Tour
Some hotels are cashing in on the 30,000 fans expected for the Lions rugby tour, with…

Hospitality looks to skill shortages

Graduate Job Application
The Association of Australian Hotel Schools and the Australian Hotel Association have…

Air expansion leads to tourist growth

an-ind-travellers
Additional aviation capacity from Asia is encouraging visitation from our most important…

Registrations now open for DestinationQ 2013

AN51-4-news-DestinationQ
Registrations have opened for this year's much anticipated DestinationQ Forum, the…

SCA concerned about unit owners rights

Queensland Government
The Queensland government has more work to do to protect the rights of hundreds of…

Other Top Recent Articles

Good manners to make the most of Chinese tourist boom

Chinese Tourist Map
Sydney businesses will get a lesson in good manners this month to help them make the most…

“Legal action” - all those in favour say “why”

Legal Concept
I was recently involved in a New South Wales matter where an executive committee had…

WA resort sold, up for refurbishment

an-dev-mangrove
Peter Prendiville has acquired the waterfront Mangrove Resort Hotel in Broome more than a…

Cost of labour reduces employment

an-ind-hotelstaff
Almost half of Australia's accommodation industry has reduced staffing levels as a direct…

New head at SilverNeedle

an-ind-sliverneedle
SilverNeedle Hospitality has announced the appointment of its new executive vice…

Hotels cash in on rugby tourists

Lions Tour
Some hotels are cashing in on the 30,000 fans expected for the Lions rugby tour, with…

Air expansion leads to tourist growth

an-ind-travellers
Additional aviation capacity from Asia is encouraging visitation from our most important…

$40m development planned for Adelaide

an-dev-adelaide
Plans for a $40 million six-storey residential and commercial development in Adelaide…

Warwick Farm to welcome Holiday Inn

AN52-2-DN-Warwick Farm
InterContinental Hotels Group and Oscars Hotels have signed a franchise agreement for a…

Spicers Vineyards Estate adds Spa Anise and new suites

an-spicers-1
Boutique Hunter Valley retreat Spicers Vineyards Estate has undergone an exciting…