Qantas regional operator National Jet Systems (NJS) is acquiring six Boeing 727-200 freighters from collapsed Australian freight company TransAustralian Air after winning a A$100 million ($69.2 million) contract from overnight freight service Australian Air Express (AAE).
Although the bulk of NJS's business is for Qantas, it operates BAe 146s on night freight operations for AAE, including three 146 freighters. The airline flies 13 BAe 146s for Qantas on regional services under the QantasLink banner, while a further four of the regional jets operate mining charters.
The A$26.5 million deal also involves NJS acquiring other assets of TransAustralian Air. It will also take on around 100 staff from the collapsed carrier, which operated as Australian Air Express, and jet base operations in Melbourne.
TransAustralian previously operated the night freight contract for AAE, which is a joint venture between Australia Post and Qantas. TransAustralian entered into voluntary administration in July due to mounting debts. Meanwhile, NJS is returning some 146s to lessors as they reach the end of their leases and Qantas upgrades some services in eastern Australia to Boeing 717s.
Source: Flight International
