Australian airline Alliance Airlines has retired and sold the last remaining Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft. The transaction netted the carrier around $3,2 million.

Alliance Airlines has thus become a pure jet operator. This aviation company operates the world's largest Fokker 70/100 fleet. Numerous machines that were formerly used by Austrian Airlines and Helvetic Airways were sold to Downunder. Most recently, the Fokker 50 were only used in so-called fly-in fly-out charters. However, the recent refurbishment of the Olympic Dam runway has allowed the airline to replace the F50s with jets preferred by customers.

“The company has completed a review of the Fokker 50 fleet, which included the use of the turboprop aircraft for existing and potential customers. The overwhelming majority of these customers preferred jet aircraft for their charter flights. In addition, the alternative shorter routes with lower passenger volumes were not considered to be part of the Alliance's core business," Alliance Airlines said in a media statement.

Currently the Qantas Group in the middle of the takeover process. The Australian market leader intends to buy the regional airline. The contracts have already been signed, but formal approval by the competition authorities is still pending. The deal is expected to close this year.

Alliance Airlines said proceeds from the sale, which includes all spare parts and engines, are expected to be recognized in the first quarter of 2023. The buyer was not named. In 2022, the airline will record a non-cash write-down of approximately $8,4 million related to the retirement of the aircraft type.

The company currently operates 25 Fokker 100, 14 Fokker 70 and 20 Embraer 190. In the medium term, the aging regional jets of the former Dutch manufacturer of another Embraer 190 to be replaced. By the first quarter of next year, the Australians want to take over 13 more units of this type. These are used aircraft.