History

Alliance Airlines is Australia’s leading Fly-In-Fly-Out airline. The mining boom in outback Australia has spawned remove mining communities whose fortunes are linked to the mines. Workers are flown in and flown out and this if FIFO. Brisbane based Alliance Airlines began in 2002 with a Fokker fleet and now has 15 aircraft, all but one a Fokker. As a charter expert Alliance Airlines concentrate on the mining sector but also pick up other work when it comes available. Essentially the highly profitable FIFO sector has been left to airlines like Alliance while scheduled services remain the domain of legacy airlines. In December 2011 Alliance Airlines listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has outperformed its bigger rivals Qantas and Virgin Australia by actually gaining value. Alliance maintain bases in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Their sole scheduled service is Perth – Karratha in WA.

On-Board Service

Alliance flight attendants are professionally attired in conservative uniforms and provide a friendly and youthful service for passengers. Crew tend to be young and enthusiastic and happy with their employer and it shows with them providing good service. Call buttons are answered promptly

Network

Alliance Airlines operate 14 Fokker jets and turboprops and one Airbus A320. They operate only one scheduled service but regular flights contracted to various Australian miners, but will fill gaps in other airlines schedules from time to time. Alliance Airlines have flown for Norfolk Air to Norfolk Island in recent years but not in their own name.. Alliance is available to fill gaps and during 2011 they operated Qantas’s flights in central Queensland while their Dash 8’s were being maintained. Many Qantas passengers in Gladstone and Rockhampton commented on the superiority of Alliance Airlines over Qantas on their flight to Brisbane.

Price

Alliance Airlines is competitive but not cheap. The mining boom in places like outback WA have increased demand so its unlikely you’ll find bargains on their website.

Catering

Alliance Airlines provide basic meals and drinks to their passengers which are free.

Entertainment

Alliance Airline provide no entertainment services on their flights and do not have an inflight magazine. Bring a newspaper.

Ground Service and baggage

Alliance Airline use contractors wherever possible to do their check in and baggage. Their service ranges from indifferent to average. This needs to be borne in mind when comparing it to Jetstar or Tiger Airways which usually ranges from appalling to indifferent.

Premium Classes & Lounges

All Alliance Airlines flights are single class however the airline does operate a pre-departure lounge in Perth which could be described as a premium lounge, but more likely resembles a cafe.

Economy Class

Alliance Airlines is a single class airline. Seats are spacious, comfortable and baggage allowance at 20kg is standard. The airlines aging Fokker F100’s and F70’s have their engines placed at the back which means noise goes backwards so the flights are pleasantly quiet.

Frequent Flyer Programme

Alliance Airlines has no frequent flyer programme or any intention of becoming a scheduled airline that might need one.

Corporate Culture

Alliance Airlines seems to be well run by experts who fully understand both the Australian aviation industry and FIFO. Part of running an efficient airline includes fostering good staff relations (which Qantas no longer understands), so Alliance has done a better job than many of their competitors.

Safety

Alliance Airlines has a strong preference for the Dutch built Fokkers which have been out of production for almost two decades. Despite this, these planes are well maintained and in excellent flying condition. Alliance prefer these planes so much, they have even acquired two more from Columbian airline Avianca. Alliance Airlines has operated without a significant safety issue

Alliance Airlines - Rating

Alliance Airlines provides professional charter air services primarily to the mining sector in outback Australia at a reasonable price.

www.allianceairlines.com.au