Free Spirit Airlines (Melbourne Essendon) is a Victoria-based start-up looking to offer scheduled passenger flights between its Melbourne Essendon base and Burnie, Tasmania, before the end of this year. The carrier plans to offer budget services on flights to cities served by only one other carrier using a fleet of Beech 1900Ds and Beech 1900Cs.

Backed by Ukrainian-Australian investors, Free Spirit has also applied for a liquor licence to sell alcohol to passengers and locals from its premises in Burnie's disused western terminal.