Air Australia's VH-YQC

One of the now-defunct Air Australia's A320-212s, VH-YQC (msn 395), is transiting through HNL, as it is being reclaimed by its lessor, Aero Turbine Inc (Doral, FL). VH-YQC arrived late last evening from MAJ (seen above on the AirService Hawai‘i ramp), but the flight information is not available online.

395 was originally purchased by leasing company GATX, and delivered to TAP - Air Portugal [TP/TAP] in March 1993, as CS-TNE, and named "Sa De Miranda". It was with the TAP fleet for seven years. It then went to Air Luxor [LK/LXR] in March 2000, and was sub-leased to Novair [1I/NVR] twice during the four year lease. In May 2004, it was leased again by TAP, with the same name for six more years. The A320 was sold to Aero Turbine Inc, and leased to Strategic Airlines (Air Australia's predecessor) as VH-YQC in May 2010. VH-YQC, and fleet mate VH-YQB, were the only aircraft to receive the Air Australia livery and branding.

Mahalo to MRC Aviation for the heads-up!

Air Australia Suspends Operations

Air Australia suspended all operations today, and the airline has been put under administration under supervision of KordaMentha. Here in Honolulu, several hundred passengers have been stranded by the shutdown, and VH-SSA (above) is parked on the north ramp. Both Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas Airways are both offering rescue fares to help the Air Australia with their return accommodations.

More information is FlightGlobal.com's article.

Air Australia's press release.

Hawaiian Airlines information on their rescue fares.

Qantas Airways is in the process of assisting those affected passengers.


*** 02.27.12 Update ***
VH-SSA was ferried to ZRH (via YUL) from HNL on the 25th.

Air Australia Launches MEL-HNL Service

Air Australia inaugurates service between MEL and HNL this morning with the arrival of AGC11. Their A330 is scheduled to arrive around 0945HST.

Aviation writer Will Horton tweeted that he is on this flight.

AIr Australia Launches BNE-HNL Service

Air Australia [VC/AGC] began service today between BNE (Brisbane, Australia) and HNL. The first flight landed (above) on Runway 4R just before 0730 as "Strategic1". Their A330-223, VH-SSA "Outback" (msn 324), still wears the original Strategic livery and branding, as it is their lone A330. Only their one of their three A320-212s have received the Air Australia livery.

Service between MEL and HNL will launch on Friday.

Air Australia's New Look

Australian publication Travel Weekly has an article that unveils the new look for Air Australia, which plans to launch service to HNL later this year.

Air Australia To Enter Hawai‘i Market

Australian carrier Strategic Airlines (VC/AGC) will re-brand itself to Air Australia, a low-cost carrier in October. It will launch service to HNL from MEL and BNE using A330s on 14 December 2011. Air Australia will be the third Australian carrier to serve HNL, and the fourth airline total (along with Hawaiian Air, which has gone daily) to enter the Australia-HNL market. It would become the only airline flying to/from MEL and BNE. Currently, HA, JQ, QF only serve SYD.

The report by The Australian.


***Update 09.04.11***
Australian publication Travel Weekly has a preview of the new Air Australia colors and re-branding.