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This is an article about an airline in Australia. For Skywest Airlines in North America see SkyWest.

Skywest
IATA XR	ICAO OZW	Callsign OZWEST
Founded		1963
Fleet size		7 Fokker F50 5 Fokker F100 aircraft
Destinations		Frequent destinations include: Albany, Argyle, Broome, Carnarvon, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie, Newman and Port Hedland
Headquarters		Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Key people		Paul Daff (CEO) Hugh Davin (M. Director)
Website: http://www.skywest.com.au

Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Australia servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia.

Contents 1 History 2 Fleet 3 Services 3.1 Scheduled flights 3.2 Contract flights 3.3 International charters 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

Skywest began service in 1963 as Carnarvon Air Taxis. The airline was owned by Ansett Australia, operating flights on their behalf, until Ansett's demise in 2002. Skywest was then successfully purchased by private investors. In 2004 it was the subject of a hostile takeover attempt by a Singapore-based investment company CapitveVision Capital Ltd, which succeeded in gaining a majority stake. On 8 February 2007, news broke that the airline may be the target of a tie-up with Singapore-based Tiger Airways,^[1] although no business arrangements were ever concluded. Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is ultimately owned by Singapore incorporated London Stock Exchange AIM market quoted Advent Air Ltd (code AAIR.LN) who now own 100% of the airline. ^[2]

• 0 Airbus A320 (4 on order)
• 7 Fokker 50
• 5 Fokker 100

Skywest currently operates a combined fleet of seven Fokker 50 and five Fokker 100 aircraft which are utilised for scheduled services as well as a range of charter requirements.

Skywest has recently announced the lease of four 180-seat A320s from Icelandic transport group Avion, which will mainly be used on fly-in/fly-out charter work.(October 2006 Australian Aviation Magazine)

Skywest has also announced to the London Stock Exchange the lease of a further two Fokker 100 aircraft from Aircraft Leasing company Avation PLC (AVAP.PZ) which will be used to expand its network.

As of August 2007, Skywest Airlines operates scheduled domestic flights from Perth to the following destinations:^[3]

• Northern Territory
  • Darwin
• Western Australia
  • Albany
  • Broome
  • Carnarvon
  • Esperance
  • Exmouth
  • Geraldton
  • Kalbarri
  • Kalgoorlie
  • Kununurra
  • Monkey Mia
  • Newman
  • Perth
  • Port Hedland
• Victoria
  • Melbourne via Kalgoorlie ^[4]

In addition to scheduled flights, Skywest has contracts with various mining companies to service the burgeoning Western Australian mining industry via regular air charter flights to remote minesites. These contracts include flights between:

• Geraldton to Parabadoo Via Brockman
• Perth to Argyle
• Perth and Windarling on behalf of Portman Iron Ore^[5]
• Perth and The Granites minesite in the Tanami Desert on behalf of Newmont Tanami.^[6]

Since 2004, Island Bound Holidays has chartered a Skywest Fokker 100 to undertake flights to Bali from Port Hedland and Broome.^[7]

• Broome International Airport
• Perth Airport
• Regional airline

• Official Skywest Airlines Website

• Official Advent Air Ltd Website, owner of Skywest

1. ^ Jetstar grows to tackle a Tiger, The Australian, 8 February 2007
2. ^ Tiger to take on Jetstar, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 February 2007
3. ^ Skywest Airlines route map
4. ^ [1] Skywest Announces Kalgoorlie to Melbourne Services
5. ^ Skywest announces new mining contract
6. ^ Skywest Formally Executes Three Year Agreement with Newmont Tanami Pty Ltd
7. ^ Island Bound Holidays

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