Australian airExpress was a logistics company based in Melbourne, Australia. It operated freight-only services within Australia using aircraft operated by Express Freighters Australia (a subsidiary of Qantas), National Jet Systems and Pel-Air; and a fleet of land vehicles. Its main base was Melbourne Airport. Australian airExpress was absorbed into Qantas Freight in February 2013.
History
Australian airExpress (AaE) was established as a domestic air freight company with the ability of pick-up and delivery services using both vans and trucks. AaE started operations on 1 August 1992.Major Airline Directory Australian Aviation issue 86 May 1993 page 69 It was established as a 50:50 joint venture between Qantas and Australia Post to compete with Ansett Australia.Airlines of Australasia Directory Australian Aviation issue 172 May 2001 page 62 AaE operated more than 50 nightly inter-capital freighter services. AaE used freight capacity on Qantas domestic flights and also dedicated cargo services operated on its behalf by several different companies, principally using Boeing 727 aircraft. Australian airExpress began the phasing out of the 727s in September 2006 and they were replaced by converted Boeing 737s that were formerly part of the Qantas fleet, operated by Qantas subsidiary Express Freighters Australia.Qantas to modify 737 freighters for AAE Australian Aviation issue 227 May 2006 page 27Freighter Farewell Australian Aviation issue 239 June 2007 pages 70-71 The first Boeing 737 entered service on 24 October 2006. On 2 October 2012, Qantas acquired Australia Post's 50% shareholding in AaE, with Australia Post in turn acquiring Qantas's 50% stake in StarTrack.
Australian airExpress was absorbed into Qantas Freight in February 2013.Creating Australia's Leading Air Freight Services Business Australian airExpress
Operations AaE flight operations were somewhat complex and varied. "Next Flight" services used space on the next available scheduled Qantas passenger flights. Items carried for Overnight, 2 Day Economy and Off-Peak deliveries were flown on both Qantas and Australian airExpress aircraft operated by Express Freighters Australia, National Jet Systems subsidiary National Jet Express, and Pel-Air. The company did not service the Northern Territory 'overnight' from Sydney. Due to the three different service providers, AaE flights operated using different flight numbers and callsigns. The Express Freighters Australia Boeing 737s used Qantas flight numbers and callsigns as the ground handling was done by Qantas/Express Freighters,Sydney Airport website retrieved 5 February 2008. while National Jet Express used the aircraft registration as their callsign and used the IATA designator XM for its flight numbers (and used the ICAO designator XME). Pel-Air flights also used XM flight numbers but had no specific callsigns. AaE also had an international Division called Australian airExpress International.
Destinations In February 2008 Australian airExpress operated freight services to the following domestic scheduled destinations:Australian air Express locations retrieved 5 February 2008.
Australian Capital Territory Canberra Airport
New South Wales Newcastle Airport Sydney Airport
Northern Territory Ayers Rock Airport Darwin International Airport Gove Airport
Queensland Brisbane Airport Cairns Airport Gold Coast Airport Mackay Airport Rockhampton Airport Townsville Airport
South Australia Adelaide Airport
Tasmania Hobart Airport Launceston Airport
Victoria Melbourne Airport (main hub)
Western Australia Perth Airport
Fleet The following aircraft were operating on behalf of Australian airExpress in December 2011:National Jet Express AOC retrieved 6 September 2008.Express Freighters Australia AOC retrieved 6 September 2008.Australian civil aircraft register search, using "National Jet Express" as the search parameter. Search conducted 6 September 2008.
+ Australian airExpress FleetAircraftTotalNotesFairchild Metro III1 Operated by Pel-AirBoeing 737-300F4Operated by Express Freighters AustraliaBritish Aerospace 146-300QT2Operated by Cobham Aviation ServicesBritish Aerospace 146-100QT1Operated by Cobham Aviation Services
References
External links
Company website