Fly in, fly out charters begin
The Sunshine Coast’s first fly-in, fly-out charter operation starts today [Monday 9 January].
Mining giant Rio Tinto Coal has signed a long-term contact with independent airline Skytrans to run four flights a week from the Sunshine Coast Airport to Clermont in Central Queensland.
Skytrans’ south-east Queensland manager Steve Bellamy said the additional flights connected the Sunshine Coast directly to the mining companies.
“More and more people are wishing to work in the mines and this gives them the opportunity to do so,” Mr Bellamy said.”Mining companies will now be looking to the Sunshine Coast for employees because these services are available, instead of paying for employees to travel to Brisbane.”
The two Dash 8 aircraft, which can carry up to 50 passengers, will fly around 400 employees to and from Clermont every week.
An estimated 1000 jobs will be created through the new service, adding to the Coast’s existing Aergo charter flights to Middlemount, Clermont and Moranbah.
It was understood that BMA – a joint venture between BHP and Mitsubishi – was looking to the Sunshine Coast for fly-in, fly-out workers for its Caval Ridge mine near Moranbah. Mr Bellamy said Skytrans would welcome the move and increase its Sunshine Coast fleet to cater for the mining demand.
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