SkyAirWorld
Encyclopedia
SkyAirWorld was a scheduled and charter airline based in Brisbane
, Australia
. It provided a range of services including charter work for the Australian military, and has also provided wet-leases for other carriers, particularly airlines in the South Pacific
.
SkyAirWorld first came to the attention of the aviation industry in Australia when it issued a Press Release on 2 October 2006 announcing its intentions. The company registered its first aircraft, a second-hand ERJ 170
on lease, on 8 March 2007; it arrived at Brisbane from Hong Kong the following week. The aircraft was promptly repainted in Solomon Airlines
colours after an agreement was reached between the two airlines that SkyAirWorld would operate on behalf of Solomon's and after a delay in SkyAirWorld obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the aircraft commenced operations between Brisbane and Honiara
and Honiara and Nadi International Airport
in mid-May 2007.. Among its members was former Ozjet Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Schott an acclaimed MBA graduate from Swinburne University in Melbourne.
The relationship proved to be short-lived, being suspended in August 2007 with each party blaming the other; SkyAirWorld claimed that it was not being paid, while from the other camp came claims that the ERJ 170 was inadequate to the task as it lacked adequate load-carrying capacity. The two parties attempted to resolve the dispute but on 3 October 2007 it was announced by the Solomon Islands Government
that the agreement had been terminated. The aircraft was subsequently partially repainted to remove the Solomon's titles.
On 13 November 2007 it was reported in Solomon Islands media that a new airline would commence services between Brisbane and Honiara by the end of the month, using an ERJ 170 until an ERJ-190 became available early in 2008. The airline, to be called Coral Sea Express, was reported to have secured a partnership with a Solomons Islands-based company. The Managing director of Coral Sea Express was reported to be David Charlton, who is also the CEO of SkyAirWorld. However this did not eventuate, and on 10 January 2008 SkyAirWorld announced that it would enter a joint venture
with Indonesia
n airline Lion Air
(to be called Lion Air Australia
), to enable Lion Air to enter the Australian domestic airline market, and to serve routes between Australia and Indonesia. Australian media outlets reported that Lion Air was taking a 49% interest in SkyAirWorld under the joint venture.
On 28 November 2008 SkyAirWorld was reported as signing an agreement to establish the flag carrier
airline of Timor-Leste
. The airline, to be called Timor Air
, would use a SkyAirWorld Embraer 190 for services from Dili
to Darwin
and Bali; operations were planned to commence in February 2009. SkyAirWorld intended to operate on the route in its own right, commencing on 16 February 2009. At the same time the partnership with Timor Air was announced, SkyAirWorld's CEO David Charlton announced plans for the airline to fly twice-weekly domestic services from Brisbane to Darwin via Cloncurry
.
Since the termination of the agreement with Solomon Airlines, SkyAirWorld had initially limited itself to charter services. Following the delivery of the first ERJ 190, the airline re-entered the field of scheduled services, operating on behalf of Air Niugini
on services to and from Sydney
. It then commenced operating on its own behalf between Brisbane and Honiara, and following regulatory approval in late July, launched services between Brisbane and Cairns
via Cloncurry in August 2008, flying three times a week.
The Lion Air Australia
joint venture was to have six Boeing 737 900ER
aircraft.
, with the airline, which owes more than A$
40 million to creditors, placed under voluntary administration.
The former SkyAirWorld Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) David Charlton and his father in-law, Kenneth Allan, claim that SkyAirWorld owes them A$32 million with the airlines former 140 workforce being owed A$1.8 million.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, 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 provided a range of services including charter work for the Australian military, and has also provided wet-leases for other carriers, particularly airlines in the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
.
History
Embraer E-Jets
The Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range, jet airliners produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series...
on lease, on 8 March 2007; it arrived at Brisbane from Hong Kong the following week. The aircraft was promptly repainted in Solomon Airlines
Solomon Airlines
Solomon Airlines is the national airline of the Solomon Islands, based in Honiara.- History :Solomon Airlines was established in 1962 as a charter airline by Laurie Crowley. Crowley had been flying around Papua New Guinea when he started to fly charter flights on a single Piper Aztec plane to the...
colours after an agreement was reached between the two airlines that SkyAirWorld would operate on behalf of Solomon's and after a delay in SkyAirWorld obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), the aircraft commenced operations between Brisbane and Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
and Honiara and Nadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
in mid-May 2007.. Among its members was former Ozjet Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Schott an acclaimed MBA graduate from Swinburne University in Melbourne.
The relationship proved to be short-lived, being suspended in August 2007 with each party blaming the other; SkyAirWorld claimed that it was not being paid, while from the other camp came claims that the ERJ 170 was inadequate to the task as it lacked adequate load-carrying capacity. The two parties attempted to resolve the dispute but on 3 October 2007 it was announced by the Solomon Islands Government
Politics of the Solomon Islands
Politics of Solomon Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy within the Commonwealth, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Solomon Islands is an independent country and Commonwealth Realm. Executive...
that the agreement had been terminated. The aircraft was subsequently partially repainted to remove the Solomon's titles.
On 13 November 2007 it was reported in Solomon Islands media that a new airline would commence services between Brisbane and Honiara by the end of the month, using an ERJ 170 until an ERJ-190 became available early in 2008. The airline, to be called Coral Sea Express, was reported to have secured a partnership with a Solomons Islands-based company. The Managing director of Coral Sea Express was reported to be David Charlton, who is also the CEO of SkyAirWorld. However this did not eventuate, and on 10 January 2008 SkyAirWorld announced that it would enter a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
with Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n airline Lion Air
Lion Air
Not to be confused with the Sri Lankan airline Lionair.PT Lion Mentari Airlines, operating as Lion Air, is Indonesia’s largest private carrier and Asia’s first hybrid carrier which offers both economy and business-class seating, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lion Air also flies to Singapore,...
(to be called Lion Air Australia
Lion Air Australia
Lion Air Australia was a planned Australian domestic and international airline. After the collapse of its main proposed shareholder SkyAirWorld, the future of the Lion Air Australia is uncertain...
), to enable Lion Air to enter the Australian domestic airline market, and to serve routes between Australia and Indonesia. Australian media outlets reported that Lion Air was taking a 49% interest in SkyAirWorld under the joint venture.
On 28 November 2008 SkyAirWorld was reported as signing an agreement to establish the flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
airline of Timor-Leste
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. The airline, to be called Timor Air
Timor Air
Timor Air is launching in partnership with Vincent Aviation in July 2011. The flag carrier airline of Timor-Leste East Timor is starting with weekday return flights using Saab 340 type aircraft....
, would use a SkyAirWorld Embraer 190 for services from Dili
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
to Darwin
Darwin International Airport
Darwin International Airport is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin....
and Bali; operations were planned to commence in February 2009. SkyAirWorld intended to operate on the route in its own right, commencing on 16 February 2009. At the same time the partnership with Timor Air was announced, SkyAirWorld's CEO David Charlton announced plans for the airline to fly twice-weekly domestic services from Brisbane to Darwin via Cloncurry
Cloncurry, Queensland
-Notable residents:*Writer Alexis Wright grew up in Cloncurry.*Association Footballer Kasey Wehrman was born in Cloncurry . He went on to play domestically and in Scandinavia. His achievements include winning a NSL Championship in 1996-1997 with the Brisbane Strikers and being capped several times...
.
Services
Air Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
on services to and from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. It then commenced operating on its own behalf between Brisbane and Honiara, and following regulatory approval in late July, launched services between Brisbane and Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
via Cloncurry in August 2008, flying three times a week.
Fleet
In December 2008 the SkyAirWorld fleet consisted of:- 2 Embraer 145Embraer ERJ 145 familyThe Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...
- 1 Embraer 170Embraer E-JetsThe Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range, jet airliners produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series...
- 2 Embraer 190Embraer E-JetsThe Embraer E-Jets are a series of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range, jet airliners produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and corporate aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series...
The Lion Air Australia
Lion Air Australia
Lion Air Australia was a planned Australian domestic and international airline. After the collapse of its main proposed shareholder SkyAirWorld, the future of the Lion Air Australia is uncertain...
joint venture was to have six Boeing 737 900ER
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft.
Collapse
In February 2009, SkyAirWorld grounded three of its Embraer aircraft and sacked 40 people out of its 140 workforce but the airline temporarily suspended its operations in 22 February 2009 after the airline cited that it would be restructuring its business. However in March 2009 the airline had all of its Embraer aircraft repossessed by GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), an aircraft leasing arm of GE CapitalGE Capital
GE Capital is the financial services unit of General Electric, one of five major units. Its various divisions include GE Capital Aviation Services, GE Capital Real Estate, GE Energy Financial Services and GE Money....
, with the airline, which owes more than A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
40 million to creditors, placed under voluntary administration.
The former SkyAirWorld Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO) David Charlton and his father in-law, Kenneth Allan, claim that SkyAirWorld owes them A$32 million with the airlines former 140 workforce being owed A$1.8 million.