An Australian airline officially clipped its wings and ceased trading over the weekend.
Cairns-based, Skytrans, flew its last passengers on Friday after nearly 25 years of operating as a family owned, commercial airline.
The announcement comes nearly a year after the airline lost its major Queensland Government contracts.
According to ABC News, the carrier has also felt financial strain from the weakened Aussie dollar and new competition in the Aussie market.
Sad news from Cairns! #Skytrans carried its last passenger today. Wishing all my friends and colleagues in North Queensland the very best
— Vasil Rambi (@vasilrambi) January 2, 2015
In an online statement, Skytrans managing director Simon Wild said the decision to cease trading is effective immediately.
Describing it as a sad day for business and its staff, Mr Wild said he would be seeking legal and financial advice regarding the future of the business, but stressed options would not include recommencing flights anytime soon.
“To be clear, it does not include the recommencement of flights in the short to medium term.”
Simon Wild, Skytrans managing director
In the meantime, cease trading allows the airline to maximise its cash reserves for staff redundancies, suppliers and passenger refunds.
Late last year around 120 staff were laid off. Another 67 staff were paid out yesterday.
“We will miss them all, for they have all been relationships built over a lifetime of trust and mutual support, collaboration and shared endeavour, and good old fashioned friendships forged easily between good people.”
According to Mr Wild some passengers have had their travel plans interrupted and the company has spoken to the Queensland Government and other airlines to provide aircraft for stranded travellers.
So far, Rex has taken over Skytrans’ routes in the western and Gulf parts of the state and Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the State Government is trying to find other operators for routes in the Cape.
