Free Spirit Airlines
| |||||||
| Founded | 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 30 April 2015 | ||||||
| Hubs | Essendon Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 | ||||||
| Destinations | 3 | ||||||
| Parent company | West Wing Aviation | ||||||
| Headquarters | Essendon Fields, Victoria, Australia | ||||||
| Key people | Roman Badov, Founder | ||||||
| Website | freespiritairlines.com.au | ||||||
Free Spirit Airlines is a Melbourne-based airline that was founded in 2012 and commenced operations on 30 April 2015.[1][2] The company is headquartered in Essendon Fields, Melbourne, Australia.[1]
History
The Free Spirit Airline was first established in 2012 to provide economical alternatives for travelling.[3] Later in October 2014, planning for a service from Essendon to Burnie was established.[4] The airline gained its first aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900, from West Wing Aviation in March 2015 and was reported to launch later in April.[5] On 30 April 2015, the company launched with flights from Essedon Airport,[6] however delayed operations the next day after a competing airliner attempted to lure away employees.[7][8] The airline resumed operations on 7 May 2015 with its first flight from Essendon to Burnie. The airline once again put operations on hold late in October 2016 due to their only aircraft being returned to its leaser and being put up for sale. It was announced on Wednesday 23rd November 2016 that the airline is upgrading aircraft and services are set to resume on December 1. The airline has received 1 aircraft which is Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-SEZ painted in basic Free Spirit Colours, it's unclear if they'll actually receive any other aircraft. [9]
Destinations
The airline currently operates flights from its main hub at Essendon Airport, Melbourne to Burnie Airport in Tasmania and Merimbula Airport in New South Wales.[10]
Fleet
As of October 2016 Free Spirit Airlines has 0 aircraft in their fleet. However since their only aircraft VH-EMK a Beechcraft 1900 was returned to its leaser in Western Australia, their routes have been operated by other operators on behalf of Free Spirit. These operators include: Sharp Airlines Metro 23, GAM (General Aviation Maintenance) Dornier 228 and most recently and commonly Vortex Air's Piper Navajo VH-TWU. On November 23 2016 it was announced the airline is upgrading from their Beechcraft 1900 to two new aircraft. Since operations resumed on December 1 the airline has got Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-SEZ operating the routes, the aircraft is in basic Free Spirit colours. It's unclear if they have another aircraft joining the fleet or if they'll use other Sharp aircraft if needed. :[11]
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| [Metro 23] | 1 | [(leased)] |
References
- 1 2 "Profile on Free Spirit Airlines | CAPA - Centre for Aviation". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "FREE SPIRIT AIRLINES PILOT CADETSHIP". www.fsacadet.info. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Our Company | Free Spirit Airlines". www.freespiritairlines.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Free Spirit planning Burnie air service". The Advocate. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Australia's Free Spirit acquires a Beechcraft 1900C". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Free Spirit Airlines Launches New Service to Burnie/Wynyard | Essendon Airport". www.essendonairport.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Merimbula flights delayed after flight crew 'poached'". ABC News. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Free Spirit Airline hits out at Rex". The Advocate. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Free Spirit Air launches flights between Essendon and Burnie". Mercury. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Free Spirit Airlines". www.freespiritairlines.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Our fleet | Free Spirit Airlines". www.freespiritairlines.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
http://www.controller.com/listings/aircraft/for-sale/1457529/1991-beechcraft-1900c
http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/4309995/free-spirit-out-of-the-air-for-upgrade/?cs=5312