Pilbara Airlines (Port Hedland) has announced it is planning to use Karratha Airport, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, as its primary base for flights to Asia.

In a statement, the carrier's general manager, Ed Turner, said it will shortly open a dialogue with the Karratha municipality over the use of the airfield and its infrastructure. Until now, Pilbara Airlines had only considered using Port Hedland International Airport, located 200 kilometres east of Karratha.

Pilbara Airlines plans to use two A320 Family jets to serve Singapore Changi initially in late 2020/early 2021. Other destinations that have been touted in the past include Vietnam and Manila Ninoy Aquino International in the Philippines.

Karratha is home to a number of iron ore and salt mining ventures as well as a sizeable natural gas extraction facility. A sizeable portion of its population are expatriates from Southeast Asia and neighbouring regions.

Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) records show Pilbara Airlines (AOC) (PBA, Perth International) is currently certificated for passenger charter flights but, according to the airline, it is in the process of upgrading its AOC to include large jets.

"The airline has a substantial infrastructure program and wants to construct a bond store with chiller and freezer facilities to permit the export of agriculture and aquaculture produce, a Head Office for over 150 staff, a maintenance hangar, and an aviation academy to train pilots, cabin crew and engineers," it said.

Pilbara Airlines was formed in Port Hedland earlier this year by Perth businessman Khoi Vo and former Port Hedland Councilor Peter Carter.

Australian government records show Pilbara Airlines (AOC) was founded in April 2009 as Austasia Airlines (Australia) before being renamed Air Timor (Australia) in March 2011. In September this year, it was again renamed, this time as Pilbara Airlines.

In recent months, the airline said it has moved rapidly, opening up a Project Office in Perth, appointing a General Manager, Chief Pilot, Safety & Quality Manager, Airworthiness Manager, Project Manager, ancillary staff and a number of aviation consultants.