Aircraft builder Embraer might have a global reputation for outstanding regional jets and nimble turboprops, but its presence in Australia is relatively small. That's something Embraer is keen to change. But today, just seven airlines are flying Embraer aircraft in Australia. Some of those airlines are reasonably well-known, others not so. Here's a rundown on what airlines are flying Embraers in Australia right now.
Alliance Airlines sets the pace with Embraers in Australia
Brisbane-based Alliance Airlines is soon to be Australia's biggest operator of Embraers. Alliance Airlines have five ERJ 190s and a further 25 are on the way. As previously reported in Simple Flying, Qantas is wet-leasing eight of the Embraers. Some of those Embraers will be based in Darwin, but the majority will call Adelaide Airport home. The Embraers will start flying for Qantas in late May.
There are also whispers Qantas is looking to wet lease even more Alliance Airlines Embraers and base them in Townsville. Soon to have 30 Embraers at its disposal, Alliance Airlines has a lot of wriggle room when it comes to working out what to do with them. Many will start replacing Alliance's aging fleet of Fokker jets. Alliance Airlines is the world's biggest operator of Fokker jets.
A handful of other Australian airlines operate Embraer jets
Also operating an ERJ 190 is Sydney's Bankstown Airport-based Pionair. Pionair is a passenger and cargo charter operator. In addition to the Embraer, the airline has a small fleet of British Aerospace BAe 146s. Pionair normally uses the Embraer on flights between Australia and Kiribati. Now curtailed by the travel downturn, Pionair's ERJ190 is operating flights throughout New South Wales and Queensland.
Also operating a single ERJ 190 is Adelaide-based Cobham Aviation. Cobham operates outsourced freight services for Qantas, fly-in, fly-out passenger, and freight services to remote sites to support mining, oil and gas projects, and aerial border surveillance and search-and-rescue operations under contract with the Australian Government. Cobham's ERJ 190 is based in Perth and a frequent visitor to Barrow Island.
Another significant Embraer operator in Australia is Darwin-based Airnorth (not to be confused with Canada's Air North). Airnorth has a fleet of four ERJ 170s and five 120 Brasilas. Airnorth mostly uses its Embraers on passenger services around northern Australia, but its ERJ 170s turn up as far afield as Melbourne. The Brasilas tend to stick closer to their Darwin base. They dart around the Northern Territory, including operating a multi-stop milk run down to Alice Springs.
Smaller airlines focus on Embraer turboprops
Skippers Aviation, a Perth-based charter and passenger airline specializing in operating fly-in-fly-out services to Western Australia mine sites was a long-time operator of Embraer 120 Brasilas. However, Skippers advised Simple Flying they took the last Embraers out of service last year.
Moorabbin Airport-based King Island Airlines has a single EMB 110 Bandeirante that seats 18 passengers and flies between Melbourne and the Bass Strait's King Island. King Island Airlines is one of only two Australian airlines left flying the Bandeirante. King Island Airlines' Bandeirante has been out of action for some time, undergoing heavy maintenance. But the airline says it hopes to have the plane back in the air shortly. The other airline operating the EMB 110 is Adrenaline Skydive who usually operate the plane out of Picton Airport southwest of Sydney.
Around a dozen further Embraers are flying as executive aircraft around Australia. However, it is fair to say the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer does not have a big presence in the country. That may soon change. Qantas is reportedly considering Embraers E2 jets as possible replacement aircraft for its fleet of aging Boeing 717s and Fokker jets. Or they could just keep on wet leasing Alliance's Embraers. Either way, combined with the current wet-lease of Alliance Airlines Embraers, that would significantly boost the profile of Embraer in Australia.