Skytrans (Cairns) will cut its workforce of 200 employees by half as a result of it losing three Queensland regulated regional air routes to Rex - Regional Express (ZL, Wagga Wagga) last month. Australian Aviation reports the carrier will also have to trim its fleet of seven DHC-8-100s and three DHC-8-300s though exact numbers are currently unknown.
“About 101 full time employee positions will probably go,” Skytrans chief executive Simon Wild said. “Some people are interested in going part-time, others are interested in job-sharing, some are interested in taking voluntary redundancy. It will be a scale-back as we finish contracts and depending on what other opportunities arise between now and when we finish those contracts.”
Wild added that even though REX would assume the routes from December 31, Skytrans still had an encouraging future operating regular public transport (RPT) services. However, the cut backs will impact the carrier's expansion plans, those in South East Queensland in particular.
