Air Link Explained

Airline:Air Link Airlines
Iata:LZ
Icao:-
Callsign:-
Founded:1974
Hubs:Dubbo Regional Airport
Secondary Hubs:Bankstown Archerfield Essendon
Fleet Size:21
Parent:Aviation Logistics Holdings
Headquarters:Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Website:www.airlinkairlines.com.au
Num Employees:50

Air Link Pty Ltd[1] is an airline[2] and air charter company based in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It operates air charter services and recommenced regular passenger services in November 2019.[3] As of 2024, Aviation Logistics Holdings (ALH) who owns Air Link, Air Med and Chart Air, employs nearly 300 staff and owns and operates 70 aircraft across its 7 bases in 4 states. Aviation Logistics Group operates one of Australia's largest fleet of general aviation aircraft across its subsidiaries and associated companies.[4] Air Link has bases in Dubbo, Brisbane (Archerfield), Sydney (Bankstown) and Melbourne (Essendon).[5]

History

The airline was formed and started operations in 1974 as an aircraft charter operation based in Dubbo. In 1989 the company was acquired by David and Barbara Miller. Regular regional airline services across western New South Wales were commenced in 1991, when Hazelton Airlines divested itself of its piston-engined aircraft and the routes served by those aircraft. On 30 November 2005 Regional Express Holdings acquired all the shares in Air Link, with David Miller appointed as Chief Executive, and it was run as an independent airline within the Regional Express group.[6] On 10 November 2008 Regional Express Holdings announced that Air Link would cease all scheduled operations on 20 December and concentrate on its air charter and aircraft maintenance business.[7] Scheduled services resumed again in 2014 with a daily return service between Dubbo and Sydney operated on behalf of Regional Express Airlines. In 2015, services commenced to Cobar in the company's Beech 1900D and in December 2017 Air Link ceased these flights.[8] At the start of 2018 the company ceased all RPT operations for Regional Express, with the sole remaining Beech 1900D being sold in March[9] and soon after suspended all charter flights. In September 2018, Regional Express Holdings sold the Air Link business to Aviation Logistics Holdings. From November 2019, Air Link recommenced regular passenger services with flights to Bourke, Lightning Ridge and Walgett using its Piper Chieftain fleet. From 2019, the fleet has been progressively refurbished, particularly to incorporate the company's new stylised logo.

Destinations

Prior to the cessation of scheduled services in December 2008, Air Link operated to the following destinations:

Prior to the second cessation of scheduled services, Air Link operated to the following destinations on behalf of Regional Express Airlines:

Destinations from the recommencement of services in November 2019:

Fleet

As of February 2024, the Air Link fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Caption text
Aircraft Number Notes
2
10
3 Pressurized
1
1
4
3 Medical
2
1

Formerly operated

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ABNLookup - Current details for Air Link Pty Ltd . 10 June 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080620105855/http://www.abr.business.gov.au/%28oindxb452ivkrc45wuz1njn4%29/abnDetails.aspx?ABN=27000872613 . 20 June 2008 . dead .
  2. http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/NSW546343-09.pdf Air Link AOC.
  3. News: AIR LINK AND FLYPELICAN BRINGING FLIGHTS BACK TO WESTERN NSW . 20 October 2019 . Australian Aviation . 27 August 2019.
  4. Web site: Aviation Logistics Group operates Australia's largest fleet of general aviation aircraft across our subsidiaries and associated companies. . 2024-02-18 . www.aviationlogistics.com.au.
  5. Web site: 2018-03-17 . Air Link Charter Flights . 2024-02-18 . en-US.
  6. News: Directory: World Airlines . . 59 . 27 March 2007.
  7. http://www.rex.com.au/MediaAndPressClippings/ShowNews.aspx?site=IR&nid=196&page= "Change to Air Link Operations" - Regional Express Media Release.
  8. Web site: Council hopeful of future air services – the Cobar Weekly.
  9. Web site: Aircraft register search. 2 September 2021.