AUSTRALIAN AIRLINERS 1990s - THIRD LEVEL
A selection of my photographs of aircraft operated on scheduled regional services


Flight West Airlines operated scheduled services across Queensland. Beech 200 King Air VH-XFB at their Cairns terminal in July 1992.

Flight West King Air VH-SKN at Townsville in March 1990 operating the daily coastal trunk route Cairns-Brisbane.
The King Airs were replaced during the 1990s by Dash 8s and later Embraer Brasilias on this long run.

Embraer Bandeirante VH-XFH at Cairns in June 1990

Passengers disembark from Embraer Bandeirante VH-XTL at Cairns in February 1990.

DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 VH-XFC at Cairns in June 1990.

Flight West Airlines Beech 58 at Cairns in July 1991.

Cairns-based Cape York Air Service provided a network of scheduled routes to Cape York communities and pastoral properties.
Cessna 208A Caravan VH-CYC at Cairns in September 1997.

Cape York Air Services' Britten Norman Trislander VH-BSP at Cairns in January 1993

BN-2A Islander VH-RTP at Cairns in October 1993.

Cape York Air Services also operated Piper Atecs and Chieftans. Aztec VH-MJG seen at Cairns in June 1992.

Torres Air BN-2A Islander VH-TRW seen at Cairns in June 1993, operated to Torres Strait islands between Australia and New Guinea.

Skywest Airlines of Perth established a base at Cairns to maintain the aircraft of their Coastwatch contract.
Local charter contracts were also pursued. This Bandierante was based at Cairns during 1992.

The Skywest Bandeirante in 1992 while flying the Cairns-Milne Bay (Papua New Guinea) service for Milne Bay Air.


Skywest Beech King Air 200 P2-SMB at Cairns in January 1990 operating Milne Bay Air's scheduled services.

Norfolk Arlines commenced with services to Norfolk Island but added regional routes from Brisbane, before folding in 1990.
Their Bandeirante VH-KIQ was at Cairns in February 1990.

Sunbird Airlines was another Queensland regional airline which failed during 1990, partly due to the drop in connecting passengers from
the major airlines following the Ansett pilots industrial action the previous year. Bandeirante VH-FCK at Cairns January 1990.

Sunbird Airlines Bandeirante VH-FCG at Cairns February 1990 being unloaded from a schedueld service from the south.


Sunbird Airlines Cessna 421 VH-TWH at Cairns in October 1990.


New operator Transtate Airlines took over some North Queensland routes from 1997. Bandeirante VH-UQF at Cairns in April 1998.

North Australian Air Charters flew from Townsville to Palm Island and other aboriginal communities.  VH-END at Townsville April 1990.

Rundle Air Service at Townsville also operated scheduled services. Cessna 404 Titan VH-JOG at Townsville in February 1990.

Sunstate Airlines had a wide southern Queensland route network. Short SD330 VH-KNQ at Thangool in April 1994.


Seaview Aircharter flew scheduuled services to Lord Howe Island. PA-31 Chieftan VH-JJI at their Coffs Harbour base in October 1994.

Hazelton Airlines had a wide scheduled route network across NSW.  Chieftan VH-MZM seen at Coonabarabran in January 1990.

Hazelton Airlines PA-31-350 Chieftan VH-MZI at Dubbo NSW in January 1990.


Back to the Photographs Menu