Alliance Airlines

Alliance Airlines is Australia's largest charter and wet-lease operator, headquartered in Brisbane with a fleet of 65 aircraft. The airline doesn't sell tickets to the general public in the traditional sense -- instead, it operates contract flying for mining companies, government agencies, and other airlines. If you're flying Alliance, it's almost certainly because your employer or a partner airline put you on the plane. The FIFO (fly-in fly-out) market is Alliance's bread and butter, connecting mine sites across Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory to capital city bases.

The fleet is a mix of Embraer E190s, Fokker 100s, and Fokker 70s -- all single-aisle jets suited to the 1-3 hour sectors that dominate charter flying. Alliance also wet-leases aircraft to Qantas and Virgin Australia when those airlines need extra capacity, so you might end up on an Alliance-crewed aircraft without realising it. The airline was acquired by Qantas in 2023, which formalised a relationship that had existed informally through wet-lease agreements for years. The cabin product is functional rather than luxurious -- these are working flights, not holiday flights, and Alliance configures accordingly.

The Embraer E190 fleet (approximately 33 aircraft) is the newest and most capable type in the Alliance operation. These are proper regional jets -- rear-mounted engines, 2-2 seating throughout, and performance that handles the hot-and-high conditions at remote Australian airstrips better than the older Fokker types. The E190 carries around 100 passengers in an all-economy layout, though specific configurations vary by contract. The 2-2 cabin means no middle seats, which is a genuine comfort advantage on FIFO flights where passengers are often carrying work gear.

The Fokker 100 fleet (approximately 22 aircraft) is the legacy workhorse. These Dutch-built jets carry about 100 passengers in a 2-3 configuration and handle the bulk of the mining charter routes. The Fokker 70 is the smaller sibling -- about 79 seats in a 2-3 layout, used on routes where the Fokker 100 would be too large. Both Fokker types are getting old (most were built in the 1990s), and Alliance is progressively replacing them with E190s. The transition is gradual because the Fokkers' operating costs are low and the aircraft are well-maintained, but the passenger experience on the E190 is noticeably better.

Alliance cabins are configured for function. The E190 has a 2-2 layout with decent seat pitch (around 31-32 inches) and the absence of middle seats makes the cabin feel more spacious than the seat count suggests. The Fokker 100 and 70 have a 2-3 configuration, which means middle seats exist on the right side of the aircraft. Seatback entertainment isn't a thing -- these are typically 1-2 hour flights where you're reading, sleeping, or looking out the window.

The service level depends entirely on the contract. Some FIFO charters include a basic meal service; others are a quick drink run. When Alliance operates wet-lease flights for Qantas or Virgin, the service matches the branding airline's standards -- Alliance crew deliver Qantas or Virgin service using those airlines' catering and procedures. The crew are experienced charter operators who know remote Australian operations intimately. Expect efficiency rather than polish. The aircraft are maintained to airline standards (Alliance holds a regular public transport licence), so safety isn't a concern even though the aircraft are older.

On the E190, every seat is either window or aisle thanks to the 2-2 layout, so there's no bad seat in terms of access. Front rows (1-3) get you off faster, which matters when you're connecting to a bus transfer at a remote airstrip. The E190 is quieter than both Fokker types because the engines are rear-mounted and newer. If you're a regular FIFO flyer and get a choice, request the E190 over the Fokker.

On the Fokker 100 and 70, avoid the middle seat (column C) on the right side if you can -- it's the only middle seat on the aircraft, and on a 2-hour charter flight it's tolerable but not ideal. The Fokker's rear-mounted engines mean the front cabin is noticeably quieter. Rows 1-5 are the sweet spot for noise reduction and quick deplaning. The Fokker 70 is shorter and quieter than the Fokker 100, so if you have a choice between types on the same route, the 70 is marginally more comfortable for the fewer passengers aboard.