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Pilbara Airlines poised for 2021 flights

Alexander ScottPilbara News
Beautiful white cloud on blue sky
Camera IconBeautiful white cloud on blue sky

A Pilbara-based international airline that is in the planning stage for its first flight is hoping to take off early next year after reaching another milestone.

Pilbara Airlines was initially expected to begin making flights to South-East Asia from Port Hedland in December last year before the company announced plans to move its base of operations to Karratha.

In a statement released by the company, PA general manager Ed Turner said the company had reserved five Australian aircraft registration numbers.

Mr Turner said the airline had just obtained its airline designator from the International Air Transport Association and had been allocated its airline call-sign from the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The statement also said the airline had entered discussions with Airbus and several aircraft leasing companies for suitable aircraft. The announcement was on the heels of the acting chairman Khoi Vo saying the airline was moving forward to stage four of the project to raise capital and loan funding requirements.

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According to Mr Vo, the company would need equity of $38 million and $49 million in infrastructure loan funding over the next three years.

Mr Vo said that the airline was currently negotiating with a number of overseas venture capital firms for the first portion of funding and was meeting with lessors to finalise the lease of two Airbus A320 aircraft.

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