Company:Airnorth
Airnorth is a regional airline based at Darwin Airport in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It operates scheduled and charter services in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, Timor-Leste and Papua.
History
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Airnorth was established in 1978 and started operations on 4 July that year as Air North International; it was the result of the merger of Airnorth, Rossair of Adelaide and Tillair of Darwin.[1]
It operated charter flights only until scheduled services were introduced in 1981. At this time, the airline's fleet included the first turbine powered aircraft in the Northern Territory, a Beechcraft Super King Air as well as a Douglas DC-3.[2] In 1992, Skyport became a major shareholder and in 1993, was sold to Capiteq and renamed Airnorth Regional.[1] During the 1990s, Airnorth had a well established regional network, and by 1997, had introduced both Fairchild Metro 23 and Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft to the fleet.[2]
In 1999, Airnorth began operating services in the Northern Territory and Queensland on behalf of Ansett.[3]
In September 1999, Airnorth began operating charters from Darwin to Dili, East Timor, on behalf of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. In 2000 this became a scheduled service, Airnorth's first international route.
In 2007, Airnorth introduced the Embraer 170 to its fleet, the first jet aircraft operated by the airline. In 2012, it announced a direct service between Darwin and Townsville, the first Australian airline to offer a non-stop connection between these cities.
On 5 February 2015, it was announced that Bristow Helicopters had acquired an 85 percent controlling interest in Airnorth.[4] Bristow stated that Airnorth would retain its name and brand identity.[5] In 2015 Bristow purchased the remaining shares to obtain full ownership.
Under Bristow's ownership, Airnorth responded to a downturn in the mining industry, restructuring the route network by withdrawing services to Karratha, Port Hedland[6] and the Gold Coast.[7] A fifth E-170 joined the fleet in 2016.[8] The increased availability of the jets allowed expansion into South East Queensland and Victoria, commencing operations from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to Melbourne and Cairns in March 2016.[9] Within months the airline added further flights from Wellcamp to Townsville with all three new routes codesharing with Qantas.[10]
In March 2024, Airnorth launched a service from Alice Springs to Perth.[11]
Destinations
The airline operates over 300 scheduled and contract charter departures weekly, serving 21 domestic and international destinations including:
- Northern Territory
- Alice Springs
- Bootu Creek*
- Darwin
- Elcho Island
- Gove
- Groote Eylandt
- Katherine
- Maningrida
- McArthur River Mine
- Milingimbi
- Tennant Creek
- Queensland
- Cairns
- Townsville
- Western Australia
- Broome
- Kununurra
- Perth
- Truscott
- Indonesia
- Biak[12]
- Timor-Leste
- Dili
In addition to scheduled flights, Airnorth operates charter services for a wide variety of companies including mining & resources, defence and government clients.[13][14]
Airnorth previously flew to Melbourne and Toowoomba before terminating the service in early 2022.
Codeshare agreement
Airnorth currently has a codeshare agreement with Qantas.[15]
Interline agreement
Airnorth currently has an interline agreement with Malaysia Airlines.[16]
Fleet
As of August 2025[update], the Airnorth fleet consists of an all-Embraer fleet composed of the following aircraft:[17][18][19]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Embraer EMB-120 | 6 | — | — | 30 | 30 | |
| Embraer 170 | 3 | — | — | 76 | 76 | |
| Embraer 190 | 5 | — | — | 100 | 100 | Dry leased from Alliance Airlines |
| Total | 14 | — | ||||
Airnorth also has a dry lease agreement for four Embraer 190 aircraft from Alliance Airlines to complement its existing E170 fleet.[20]
Incidents and accidents
- On 22 March 2010, one of Airnorth's Embraer EMB 120 aircraft (registration VH-ANB) crashed into bushland near the RAAF Base Darwin golf course at approximately 10:10 (ACST), shortly after taking off from Darwin Airport on a training flight. The two crew members, who were the only people on board, were killed.[21][22][23]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Airnorth Airline History
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Airnorth Operates Sophisticated Regional Jets in Some of the World's Most Challenging Environments". Bristow Helicopters. 18 June 2015. http://bristowgroup.com/bristow-news/latest-news/2015/airnorth-operates-sophisticated-regional-jets-some/.
- ↑ AirNorth Regional expands network Australian Aviation issue 153 August 1999 page 82
- ↑ Desloires, Vanessa; Thompson, Sarah (6 February 2015). "Bristow Group buys 85pc Airnorth stake". Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney). http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/bristow-group-buys-85pc-airnorth-stake-20150206-137n9e.html.
- ↑ Bristow Group takes control of Airnorth FlightGlobal 6 February 2015
- ↑ "Airnorth axes Pilbara flights to the Kimberley and Darwin". ABC Pilbara. 19 April 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-19/air-north-axes-pilbara-flights-to-the-kimberley-and-darwin/7339294.
- ↑ Stevenson, A (14 April 2015). "Airnorth to stop Mount Isa-Gold Coast direct flights as mining downturn impacts". ABC News. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/regional-airline-to-stop-mount-isa-gold-coast/6390920.
- ↑ Butt, P (25 September 2016). "Airnorth expects new jet to prove popular with passengers". Northern Territory News. http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/airnorth-expects-new-jet-to-prove-popular-with-passengers/news-story/f554720d3d99f9f531303073727bc3ef.
- ↑ "Airnorth begins Wellcamp operations". Australian Aviation. 14 March 2016. http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/03/airnorth-begins-wellcamp-operations/.
- ↑ "Airnorth expands from Wellcamp with new Townsville flights". Australian Aviation. 9 September 2016. http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/09/airnorth-expands-from-wellcamp-with-new-townsville-flights/.
- ↑ Airnorth announces flights between Alice Springs and Perth Government of Western Australia 12 December 2023
- ↑ Diniyanto, Try Ryan; Siraja, Dg.. "Airnorth Mendarat, Kembalinya Penerbangan Internasional di Bandara Frans-Kaisiepo" (in Indonesian). Radio Republik Indonesia. https://rri.co.id/daerah/1863611/airnorth-mendarat-kembalinya-penerbangan-internasional-di-bandara-frans-kaisiepo.
- ↑ "Darwin direct". http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2011/11/16/283521_news.html.
- ↑ "Destinations". http://www.airnorth.com.au/plan-your-trip/destinations.
- ↑ "Airnorth | Qantas US". https://www.qantas.com/us/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/airnorth.html.
- ↑ "Airnorth to operate Darwin-Gove-Cairns route". https://www.airnorth.com.au/media_releases/airnorth-to-operate-darwin-gove-cairns-route/#:~:text=The%20airline%20also%20recently%20signed,with%20their%20Malaysian%20Airlines%20itinerary..
- ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Airnorth". Airliner World: 50. September 2025.
- ↑ Australian civil aircraft register search , using "Capiteq" as the search parameter; search conducted 16 August 2022.
- ↑ "Our Fleet". Airnorth. https://www.airnorth.com.au/about/our-fleet-and-seat-map/.
- ↑ McMilan, Scott (2023-11-28). "2023 Annual General Meeting Managing Director's Address" (PDF) (Press release). Alliance Airlines. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ↑ "Two pilots killed in Darwin plane crash". Northern Territory News. 22 March 2010. http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/03/22/133611_ntnews.html.
- ↑ "Media briefing: Aircraft accident at Darwin Airport". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 22 March 2010. http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2010/201006.aspx.
- ↑ "Two killed in plane crash at Darwin". Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 22 March 2010. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/two-killed-in-plane-crash-at-darwin-20100322-qq12.html.
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