A $60 million aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility will be built at Rockhampton Airport under the Queensland Government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund.
A significant number of construction jobs are expected to be created for the project.
Treasurer and Investment Minister Cameron Dick said Alliance Airlines would establish the facility to maintain its growing fleet of aircraft that currently has major maintenance activities carried out overseas.
“In a state as vast as Queensland, we know how important it is to have a thriving, competitive aviation sector,” Dick said.
“In recent years, Alliance Airlines has grown rapidly and expanded from resources-based operations to conventional passenger and freight services.
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“In the next 12 months, Alliance’s fleet of aircraft will expand from 43 to 75. To support that larger fleet, the Rockhampton MRO facility will see the creation of 98 new long-term, operational jobs by 2024.”
Dick said base maintenance will lead to a lot of overhaul work, which means a lot of opportunities for local businesses in the supply chain.
“This will create a raft of new opportunities for avionics, aerospace technologies, wheels, tyres, brakes and landing gear, engine maintenance, interiors and upholstery and cabin accessories suppliers.”
Headquartered in Brisbane, Alliance provides dedicated contract, charter, and aviation services to support mining, energy, tourism, and government sectors with its fleet of Fokker and Embraer aircraft.
The company also operates flights on behalf of most of Australia’s largest airlines. The company operates across all mainland Australian states and territories, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand and has a current full-time equivalent workforce of 820 staff.
Alliance Airlines Chairman Steve Padgett said the company’s $250 million investment into its fleet expansion over the past 12 months was further motivation to relocate its major maintenance activities to Queensland.
“This move will give us better control and coordination of our fleet, minimise costs and exposure to border closures and currency fluctuations, and will increase efficiencies across the entire Alliance group,” Padgett said.
“Once the facility is fully operational, we expect to achieve approximately $20 million per annum in full export replacement.
“We’re pleased to be working with the Queensland Government with its funding support going directly to establishing the facility. This is in addition to the recently announced $25 million from the Australian Government for upgrades to the Rockhampton Airport to service the facility.”