O'Connor Airlines
Encyclopedia
O'Connor Airlines was an airline
based at Mount Gambier
, South Australia
, Australia
. It operated scheduled services from Mount Gambier to destinations in South Australia and Victoria
. Its main base was Mount Gambier Airport
, with a hub at Adelaide Airport, which serviced Mildura Airport
and Port Augusta Airport. The airline also serviced Whyalla Airport
until September 2007
, O'Connor Airlines developed, over some years, into a freight and passenger service flying to 18 regional and country centres across the state. This was to change when it lost the freight contact. It subsequently relaunched itself, rebasing in Mount Gambier
, and began services from that city to Adelaide
and Melbourne
. The IATA Code OL was used up to 1990. It then started flying to Whyalla. It began to service the Victorian city of Mildura
in 1998, purchasing a QantasLink
route. In 2006, after Airlines of South Australia
ceased operations, it began flying from Adelaide to Port Augusta
.
The airline used Qantas
facilities at the Adelaide
airport. Originally, it used those of Australian Airlines
.
In November 2007 O'Connor Airline was placed into voluntary administration with debts of between $4–5m AUD. This was largely blamed on high maintenance costs and high competition. Administrators McGrath Nicol were at the time looking for a buyer of the service.
O'Connor Airlines ceased operations on the 14th of December 2007 after its administrators were unable to find a buyer willing to purchase the airline as a going concern. On 21 February 2008, the airline's creditors voted for a pooled Deed of Company Arrangement (DoCA) for the airline group to be broken up and then commence trading again under new ownership. Many of the assets were subsequently purchased by Mount Gambier businessman Adrian de Bruin, including the Air Operator's Certificate
, and used to establish de Bruin Air
.
Melbourne services ceased 1 July 2007 and Whyalla Services ceased 3 September 2007
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based at Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It operated scheduled services from Mount Gambier to destinations in South Australia and Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Its main base was Mount Gambier Airport
Mount Gambier Airport
Mount Gambier Airport is an airport in Mount Gambier, South Australia.Located north of Mount Gambier, it is situated on the Riddoch Highway, and is the only commercial airport servicing the south east of South Australia...
, with a hub at Adelaide Airport, which serviced Mildura Airport
Mildura Airport
Mildura Airport is located in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. It is the busiest regional airport in Victoria and has twice been named Australia's Rural Airport of the Year....
and Port Augusta Airport. The airline also serviced Whyalla Airport
Whyalla Airport
Whyalla Airport is an airport in Whyalla, South Australia.-Background:The council of the City of Whyalla has operated the airport since 1991 when it was handed over to the council by the Federal Labor Party who were in power at the time. Unfortunately for Whyalla, the main runway's pavement...
until September 2007
History
The airline was established and started operations in 1973. Beginning as a one-aeroplane flight school in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, O'Connor Airlines developed, over some years, into a freight and passenger service flying to 18 regional and country centres across the state. This was to change when it lost the freight contact. It subsequently relaunched itself, rebasing in Mount Gambier
Mount Gambier, South Australia
Mount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border....
, and began services from that city to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The IATA Code OL was used up to 1990. It then started flying to Whyalla. It began to service the Victorian city of Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
in 1998, purchasing a QantasLink
QantasLink
QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...
route. In 2006, after Airlines of South Australia
Airlines of South Australia
Airlines of South Australia refers to*A subsidiary of Ansett Airlines that operated from 1959 until 1986, and*An independent airline that operated between 1987 and 2005.- Ansett subsidiary :...
ceased operations, it began flying from Adelaide to Port Augusta
Port Augusta, South Australia
-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
.
The airline used Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
facilities at the Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
airport. Originally, it used those of Australian Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
.
In November 2007 O'Connor Airline was placed into voluntary administration with debts of between $4–5m AUD. This was largely blamed on high maintenance costs and high competition. Administrators McGrath Nicol were at the time looking for a buyer of the service.
O'Connor Airlines ceased operations on the 14th of December 2007 after its administrators were unable to find a buyer willing to purchase the airline as a going concern. On 21 February 2008, the airline's creditors voted for a pooled Deed of Company Arrangement (DoCA) for the airline group to be broken up and then commence trading again under new ownership. Many of the assets were subsequently purchased by Mount Gambier businessman Adrian de Bruin, including the Air Operator's Certificate
Air Operator's Certificate
An air operator's certificate is the approval granted from a national aviation authority to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and system in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public...
, and used to establish de Bruin Air
De Bruin Air
de Bruin Air is an air charter company based at Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia.- History :The airline was established and started operations in 2008...
.
Destinations
Domestic scheduled destinations as at July 2007:- South AustraliaSouth AustraliaSouth Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
- Adelaide Airport
- Port Augusta AirportPort Augusta AirportPort Augusta Airport is an airport in Port Augusta, South Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
- Mount Gambier AirportMount Gambier AirportMount Gambier Airport is an airport in Mount Gambier, South Australia.Located north of Mount Gambier, it is situated on the Riddoch Highway, and is the only commercial airport servicing the south east of South Australia...
- Whyalla AirportWhyalla AirportWhyalla Airport is an airport in Whyalla, South Australia.-Background:The council of the City of Whyalla has operated the airport since 1991 when it was handed over to the council by the Federal Labor Party who were in power at the time. Unfortunately for Whyalla, the main runway's pavement...
- VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- Mildura AirportMildura AirportMildura Airport is located in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. It is the busiest regional airport in Victoria and has twice been named Australia's Rural Airport of the Year....
- Melbourne International AirportMelbourne International AirportMelbourne International Airport is a public airport located 1 1/2 miles northwest of the downtown business district of Melbourne, a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. Located on central Florida's Space Coast, the airport is accessed via NASA Boulevard...
- Mildura Airport
- O'Connor flew to Renmark for a brief period in 2001. During 2000 the airline carried 41,732 passengers.
Melbourne services ceased 1 July 2007 and Whyalla Services ceased 3 September 2007