Skytrans (QN, Cairns) is expecting to receive its first A319-100 by the end of the year. The aircraft, to be entered into the Australian register as VH-L7A (msn 1779), is currently at the MAAS Aviation facility at Kaunas International for repainting.
Skytrans CEO Alan Milne says the aircraft is expected to ferry to Australia in November. The airline hopes to get the air operator's certificate variation completed by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) before the end of the year, with entry into service shortly after that.
According to ch-aviation fleets data, the 22.3-year-old VH-L7A is ex Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) and ITA Airways (AZ, Rome Fiumicino) stock, for which it was registered as EI-IMJ. The narrowbody jet seats 144 passengers in a singe-class cabin configuration.
According to the CASA register, Skytrans operates a fleet of thirteen aircraft, including two DHC-8-300s, five DHC-8-100s, and seven Cessna (single turboprop) 208Bs. The airline operates scheduled flights to 19 airports in Queensland, primarily within North Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula region.
Skytrans also operates freight and charter services, including contracted fly-in-fly-out charters. In addition, the airline recently secured a New South Wales government tender to operate scheduled Sydney-Lord Howe Island flights from early 2026, taking over from Qantas.
Earlier this year, Skytrans was acquired by Avia Solutions Group. The airline is the only subsidiary of the group operating scheduled passenger flights. However, VH-L7A will operate charters in line with Avia's standard operating procedures.
