IATA
Code: XR
ICAO
Code:
Known
As: SkyWest Airlines
Full
Name: SkyWest Airlines Pty. Ltd.
Country:
Australia
Callsign:
Unknown
History:
On 18 February, 1980, Skywest
Airlines was formed, after Skywest Jet Charter Pty
Ltd acquired Stillwell Airlines and their routes, for $5m.
The
combined fleet consisted of 39 aircraft, with 69 pilots.
Skywest
became the 2nd largest commuter airline
in Australia,
after B.P.A. in Queensland. Skywest then served from Perth
- Albany, Bunbury, Cue,
Esperance,
Meekatharra, M. Magnet, Rottnest
Island,
Telfer, Wiluna and Yeelirrie and from Karratha - Onslow, Paraburdoo and
Tom
Price.
During
December, Accord Nominees Pty Ltd gained all the
shares in the Skywest group of companies.
On 8
January, 1982,
it was announced that Skywest Airlines and Transwest Airlines had
merged, with
Accord Nominees, Devereaux Holdings P/L and Zung Fu Co, Ltd, Hong
Kong each holding a one-third share. At
that time, Skywest had 16 aircraft and
employed 100 people and Trans West had 25 aircraft and some 140
employees. Both companies maintained
separate operations,
with little change until April.
On 23
February, Foreign Investment Review Board approval was
announced. On 12 March, Devereaux
Holdings Pty. Ltd. (R.F. Stowe) announced its intension to acquire Zung
Fu
Co.'s one-third share; giving it 66.7%.
On 1
April, it was announced that Skywest Airlines Pty. Ltd.
had been formed (combining Skywest, Trans West and Westralian Aviation
Pty Ltd)
with Transwest Airlines’ operations combined with those of Skywest
Airlines,
with an initial fleet of 36 aircraft.
The name
Skywest Jet Charter Pty Ltd was initially retained,
for charter operations, but ceased to exist as of 30 August, 1982.
During
October, 1983, Skywest Airlines was granted a full
airline licence by the WA Government and permitted to compete with
Airlines of
Western Australia over several intra-state routes.
On 16
December, Skywest Holdings Pty Ltd, which was a
subsidiary of Griffin Holdings, purchased East-West Airlines Ltd from
East-West
Development Pty Ltd.
On 24 May, 1985,
Skywest Holdings Pty Ltd announced the proposed merger of Skywest
Airlines and
East-West Airlines. However, this never
took place, although some schedule rationalisation took place.
On 17 July, 1987,
Skywest Holdings Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries were acquired by the
Perron
Group. This included Skywest
Airlines/Aviation and East-West Airlines.
On 31
July, Skywest Holdings Pty. Ltd. was acquired by Bodas
Pty Ltd (T.N.T./News Corp.), from the Perron Group.
On 10
November, the arrangements for the divestment of
non-East-West trunk operations components of Skywest Holdings Pty Ltd
were
announced.
On 5 October, 1994,
Skywest introduced its first Fokker 50, VH-FNH, into service.
During
July, 1996, Bodas Pty Ltd sold Skywest Aviation Pty
Ltd, to the Paspaley Pearling Group, but retained ownership of Skywest
Airlines.
On 20
December, Ansett Holdings Ltd acquired 100% of the
shares of Bodas Pty Ltd and thus Skywest Airlines.
At 0030
AEST Friday 14 September, 2001,
all operations by Ansett Australia,
Aeropelican Air Services, Hazelton Airlines, Kendell Airlines, Skywest
Airlines
and Ansett Australia Cargo were suspended by Ansett’s administrators,
Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
On 23 September, 2001, Skywest
Airlines resumed reduced low frequency operations,
with the 1st operation by Fokker 50 VH-FNB, operating AN7661
Perth-Albany and
Esperance.
On 14
December, the Ansett Australia's later administrators,
Andersens, reached agreement in principle to sell Skywest Airlines to
Airline
Investments Ltd.
On 21 February, 2002, Skywest
Airlines were sold to Airline Investments Ltd., for
$6.5m.
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,
although no business arrangements were ever
concluded. Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is ultimately owned by Singapore
incorporated London Stock Exchange, Advent Air Ltd
,who now own 100% of the airline.
Logo:
1980's
Ansett
ownership
Current
Information
Source:
Logo: http://www.aerosite.net
History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
