West Wing Aviation (Mount Isa) will take delivery of two Dash 8-100s later next month the carrier's press service has said. The aircraft are part of a multi-million dollar investment the carrier plans to make in order to permanently assume the Skytrans (QN, Cairns) routes it has been temporarily operating since January 5.

On the authority of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), West Wing Aviation began emergency services from Cairns to Lockhart River, Aurukun, Coen, Pormpuraaw, Bamaga, and Kowanyama, in the Cape York region on January 5 for a period of 14 days. The TMR have since extended this arrangement for an additional term.

"West Wing Aviation is the RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) service operator for the Torres Strait island network and also to Palm Island from Townsville. The airline moves over 50'000 passengers per annum in these markets and is progressing negotiations for additional aircraft to cater for the increased demand into the Cape York communities," the airline said in a statement.

An additional 19-seater aircraft - believed to be an Awesome Aviation Beech 1900C VH-EMK (cn UC-159) - was also delivered on January 13.

Use of the aircraft is subject to the type being incorporated into West Wing's existing Air Operator's Certificate, a process which can take months to successfully complete.