In recent years, QantasLink has been the sole operator providing RPT services to Biloela / Thangool from Brisbane, and during this time, operated a mixture of 36-seat de Havilland Dash 8-200 / Q200 and 50-seat de Havilland Dash 8-Q300 aircraft on the route.
When QantasLink began downsizing it's fleet of Dash 8-200 / Q200's about two years ago, the Q300 became the most prominate aircraft to operate between Brisbane and Biloela / Thangool.
However, in late November 2016, QantasLink publicly announced it's intention to withdraw Biloela / Thangool services from 31 January 2017 due to declining patronage. A released statement from the airline commented that an increasing number of local commuters were either opting to travel to Brisbane by road (self drive), or board a flight from either Gladstone or Rockhampton.
On a brighter note, residents in the Banana Shire were handed a lifeline in mid-December 2016 when Fly Corporate (Corporate Air) announced they will take-over the vacated route from the flying kangaroo on 01 February 2017, with 34-seat SAAB 340B+ (WT) regional aircraft that will be scheduled to provide eight return services each week.
Of interest, WT is the abbreviation for 'Wing Tip'. During later stages of production of the SAAB 340B model, a number of aircraft were either fitted during assembly, or retrofitted at a later date, with extended wing tips to improve airfield performance in 'hot and high' conditions.
Each of the three SAAB 340B+ aircraft operated Fly Corporate (Corporate Air) are the improved WT models making them among the higher performance SAAB 340 airliners produced, or enhanced after production of the aircraft ceased in the mid-nineties.
Breaking down the eight return flights Fly Corporate will provide each week between Brisbane and Biloela / Thangool, a morning and afternoon service will operate on Monday and Friday, a morning only service between Tuesday and Thursday, and an afternoon flight on Sunday. No services will operate on Saturday.
Readers who may not be familiar with the name Fly Corporate, the airline is a Brisbane Airport based subsidiary of Vee-H Aviation / Corporate Air, itself established in 1972 as an aviation service provider. Based at Fyshwick, ACT, Vee-H Aviation / Corporate Air provides a range of services including (but not limited too) aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, ground handling, aerial survey, and charter / FIFO flights.
While Vee-H Aviation is the parent company, charter / FIFO operations are conducted as Corporate Air, while RPT services operate as Fly Corporate.
It wasn't until 2016 that Vee-H Aviation / Corporate Air decided to enter the RPT sector of aviation, and came about because of excess capacity due to softening charter demand from resource companys, and general regression of the Australian economy.
Despite still being a relatively new undertaking for Vee-H Aviation / Corporate Air, Fly Corporate now operates two Fairchild Metroliner 23's, and three SAAB 340B+ (WT) turboprop aircraft from Brisbane Airport to five location's in New Sales Wales (Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Moree, Narrabri and Tamworth) and a single port in Queensland (Biloela / Thangool). Later this month, Orange in NSW will be added to the network.
To learn more about Corporate Air, their website can be located at :
To make a reservation with Fly Corporate, feel free to click onto the link below :
Additionally, Fly Corporate can also be followed on Facebook :
