FS FSA Commenced operations 30 April 2015 Destinations 3 Headquarters Essendon Fields, Victoria Fleet size 1 Hub Essendon Airport | FSA Free Spirit Hubs Essendon Airport Parent company West Wing Aviation Founded 2012 Parent organization West Wing Aviation | |
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Free Spirit Airlines is a Melbourne-based airline that was founded in 2012 and commenced operations on 30 April 2015. The company is headquartered in Essendon Fields, Melbourne, Australia.
Contents
Free spirit airlines web version
History
The Free Spirit Airline was first established in 2012 to provide economical alternatives for travelling. Later in October 2014, planning for a service from Essendon to Burnie was established. The airline gained its first aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900, from West Wing Aviation in March 2015 and was reported to launch later in April. On 30 April 2015, the company launched with flights from Essedon Airport, however delayed operations the next day after a competing airliner attempted to lure away employees. The airline resumed operations on 7 May 2015 with its first flight from Essendon to Burnie.
The airline once again put operations on hold late in October 2016 due to their only aircraft being returned to its leaser and being put up for sale. It was announced on 23 November 2016 that the airline is upgrading aircraft and services are set to resume on December 1. The airline has received 1 aircraft which is Sharp Airlines Metro 23 VH-SEZ painted in basic Free Spirit Colours, it's unclear if they'll actually receive any other aircraft.
Destinations
The airline currently operates flights from its main hub at Essendon Airport, Melbourne to Burnie Airport in Tasmania and Merimbula Airport in New South Wales.
Fleet
As of October 2016 Free Spirit Airlines has 0 aircraft in their fleet. However since their only aircraft VH-EMK a Beechcraft 1900 was returned to its leaser in Western Australia, their routes have been operated by other operators on behalf of Free Spirit. These operators include: Sharp Airlines Metro 23, GAM (General Aviation Maintenance) Dornier 228 and most recently and commonly Vortex Air's Piper Navajo VH-TWU. On November 23 2016 it was announced the airline is upgrading from their Beechcraft 1900 to two new aircraft. Since operations resumed on December 1 the airline has got Sharp Airlines Metro III VH-SEZ operating the routes, the aircraft is in basic Free Spirit colours. It's unclear if they have another aircraft joining the fleet, they're using Sharp Airlines Metro 23 Aircraft as backups.