Category Archives: Strategic Airlines (Australia)

Saltchuk Aviation orders three more 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF)

Boeing and Saltchuk Aviation have announced the airline group placed an order for up to four more 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF).

The deal includes three firm orders and one option for the efficient medium widebody freighter with the lowest operating costs per trip, and excellent payload and range capability.

Saltchuk Aviation is most widely known for their three cargo operating brands: Aloha Air Cargo, Northern Air Cargo and StratAir. The family of companies provide services to Hawaii and Alaska, as well as destinations throughout North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

Saltchuk Aviation placed its first order with Boeing for four firm 767-300BCF in early 2021. The first 767-300BCF as part of the initial deal was delivered to the carrier earlier this month. Saltchuk Aviation’s carriers have operated 767 converted freighters in their respective fleets alongside 737 freighters since 2016.

The 767-300BCF is the world’s most efficient medium widebody converted freighter and can carry up to 51.6 tonnes (113,900 pounds) up to 6,190 kilometers (3,345 nautical miles).

Saltchuk Aviation, LLC specializes in industry-related services, most widely known for their three cargo operating brands. Aloha Air Cargo and Northern Air Cargo, LLC are Hawaii and Alaska’s largest scheduled all-cargo airlines. In addition, Northern Air Cargo provides services to destinations throughout North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

StratAir, LLC. is a Miami-based air freight company providing scheduled and charter air cargo operations throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and South America as well as ground handling and warehouse operations in Miami, FL. Saltchuk Aviation’s fleet includes Boeing 737s and 767s and transports 380M pounds of freight annually. Aloha Tech Ops and Northern Air Maintenance Services are the company’s two FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Stations located in Honolulu, HI and Anchorage, AK. Saltchuk Aviation, LLC is owned by Saltchuk Resources, Inc., a family-owned transportation company providing essential services to communities by land, sea, and air.

Aloha Air Cargo aircraft photo gallery:

Northern Air Cargo aircraft photo gallery:

StratAir aircraft photo gallery:

Strategic Airlines rebrands as Air Australia

Air Australia Airbus A320-212 VH-YQC (msn 395) BNE (Lloyd Fox), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is rebranding as Air Australia and will fly as a new low-cost carrier. The company will retire its red, white and blue brand, former name and full service business model on November 15, 2011.

Australia’s newest airline reveled this new look on November 3, 2011 which includes this new-look “boomerang” livery, flight attendant uniforms and according to the reborn airline, “a commitment to bring Australia a fresh approach to affordable air travel.”

The airline is promising “simplicity, value, operational integrity, genuine fares and service”.

Air Australia’s first green and gold jet, this Airbus A320-212 registered as VH-YQC (msn 395) entered service in the new brand on November 4, 2011. VH-YQC is pictured departing from BNE on the first day of service.

Air Australia will initially serve international leisure destinations Bali, Phuket and Honolulu and will continue to serve existing routes flown by Strategic Airlines. It will gradually transition its inflight product, website, uniforms and airport facilities after November 15, 2011.

The company has also been granted rights to operate services between Australia and China and Australia and the USA and is in the process of doubling its pilot base and recruiting new flight attendants.

Strategic Airlines unveils its new Air Australia livery

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) on October 30 will be rebranded as Air Australia as we previously reported. The company has now introduced a new livery concept for Air Australia. According to this article by Travel Today, the new design was created by Sean Cummins who designed the original Virgin Blue livery. According to the designer, the Air Australia motif is based on a “stylized boomerang” while the subtle silver grey colors represents “gum trees, koalas and grey kangeroos” according to this article. The new design also incorporates a rising sun.

Read the full article with an image of the new livery: CLICK HERE

Strategic Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Strategic Airlines to become a new low-fare airline rebranded as Air Australia

Strategic Airlines (Australia) Airbus A330-223 VH-SSA (msn 324) SYD (John Adlard), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) has announced it will become a new low-fare scheduled airline and rebrand itself as Air Australia startin on October 30, 2011. The company is adding new routes including new routes from Brisbane and Melbourne to Honolulu, Hawaii starting in December 2011.

The rebranded airline will also the enter the Brisbane-Melbourne market in December and will add Phuket, Thailand from both Brisbane and Melbourne. The airline is withdrawing from Gladstone and Townsville and cutting the Perth-Denpasar route according to the Australian.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Strategic Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Solomons to end the Strategic Airlines contract

Solomons (Solomon Airlines)-Strategic Airlines Airbus A320-212 F-GSTR (msn 436) BNE (Peter Gates), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Solomons (Solomon Airlines) (Honiara) will let the Strategic Airlines (Australia) wet lease expire and will dry lease its own Airbus A320 in March 2011. The new A320 will operate in full Solomons colors rather than Strategic colors.

Strategic Airlines has a stranded Airbus A320 at Lyon

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is dealing with growing adverse publicity with its French division due to a stranded flight in Lyon/St. Exupery. The charter flight with a disabled Airbus A320 was due to depart at 7 a.m. (0700) yesterday (July 10) has been grounded at Lyon/St. Exupery since then due to “technical problems” according to this published report. The passengers were due to fly to the Canary Islands and have been stranded since yesterday. The company is attempting to find a solution. Strategic Airlines has two AOCs (in essence two airlines), one in Australia and the other in France.

Read the article (in French):

CLICK HERE

Strategic Airlines to operate its Airbus A320-212 F-GSTR for Solomons

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is getting ready to operate its Airbus A320-212 F-GSTR (msn 436) for Solomons (Solomon Airlines) (Honiara) on the Honiara-Brisbane route.

Strategic Airlines to acquire OzJet Airlines

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) announced it intends to acquire grounded and defunct OzJet Airlines formerly owned by HeavyLift Cargo Airlines. This will allow Strategic Airlines to gain an AOC from Australia. Therefore Strategic Airlines will be formerly OzJet Airlines.

Here is the statement from Strategic Airlines:

Strategic announced today (June 29, 2009) the purchase of OzJet Airlines from administration.

Strategic gained the support of OzJet staff and creditors on Wednesday last week, to purchase the company.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the purchase of OzJet Airlines. It is a great outcome when you are able to not only ensure the payment of entitlements to staff, but also retain some of the existing employee base for future company operations. We are also thankful to the creditors who have supported our efforts in negotiation over the last few weeks” said Mr Michael James, Executive Director of Strategic. It is intended that the change in ownership will have very little impact on the existing operations of the airline. Strategic looks forward to introducing an Airbus A320 aircraft to the Perth market on the Derby route by the end of September, in place of the currently chartered Fokker 100 (F.28 Mk.0100).

Strategic Airlines is a new airline from Australia

Airbus A320 F-GSTS has been painted in the new Strategic brand at Toulouse. Copyright Photo: Eurospot.

Strategic Airlines (Brisbane) is a new international airline from Australia. The company expects to commence operations this October in Europe and August in Australia. Strategic will specialize in ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) operations. Two 174-seat Airbus A320s are being leased from AerCap. One A320 will be based in Europe (the company has applied for a French AOC so there will be a French subsidiary). The second A320 will be based in Brisbane and will be operated for Solomon Airlines starting on August 3, 2009. A larger Airbus A330-200 is also being leased from Swiss International Air Lines.