Aviair

Aviair is a Kimberley-based regional and charter airline operating from Kununurra and Karratha in Western Australia. The airline serves some of WA's most remote communities with a mix of Dash 8-Q400 turboprops and smaller light aircraft. Aviair's territory is the Kimberley and Pilbara regions -- vast, sparsely populated areas where distances between towns are measured in hundreds of kilometres of unpaved road, making air travel essential rather than convenient.

With 5 Dash 8-Q400s plus a fleet of smaller charter aircraft, Aviair operates scheduled regional services alongside charter work for the mining, tourism, and government sectors. The airline connects communities like Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, and remote Indigenous communities to Kununurra, Broome, and Perth. Aviair also operates scenic flights and tourism charters in the Kimberley, which is increasingly popular with both domestic and international visitors. The airline has deep roots in the Kimberley community and its operations are adapted to the unique challenges of outback WA flying.

The Dash 8-Q400 (5 aircraft) is Aviair's primary scheduled service aircraft, carrying 74 passengers in a 2-2 all-economy layout. It's a modern turboprop -- the fastest in regular service, with six-blade propellers that generate less noise than older designs. The Q400 handles the hot conditions and shorter runways of Kimberley and Pilbara airports effectively, and its range (around 2,000 km) is sufficient for the regional routes Aviair flies.

The light aircraft fleet includes various Cessna and Beechcraft types used for charter, scenic, and community services where the Q400 would be too large or the runway too short. These carry 5-10 passengers and are the aircraft that reach the most remote stations and communities. The fleet mix reflects Aviair's dual role: regional airline on the scheduled routes, bush charter operator for everything else. All aircraft operate under CASA regulation and Aviair maintains them at its own facilities.

The Q400 cabin has 74 economy seats in a 2-2 layout with approximately 31 inches of pitch. The no-middle-seat configuration is the standout feature, giving every passenger either a window or an aisle seat. Overhead bins are adequate for standard carry-on bags. The Q400 is one of the quieter modern turboprops thanks to its six-blade propellers and active noise vibration suppression, though it's still noticeably louder than a jet.

Cabin service on scheduled flights typically includes a light snack and beverage. There's no seatback entertainment or WiFi. Flights are generally under two hours, so the lack of entertainment isn't a significant issue. The real appeal of flying Aviair is the scenery -- the Kimberley is one of Australia's most visually stunning regions, and a window seat on a low-flying Q400 gives you views of gorges, waterfalls, red rock formations, and pristine coastline that you'd never see from a jet at 35,000 feet. The crew are Kimberley locals who know the region intimately.

On the Q400, front rows (1-4) are the best seats. They're ahead of the propellers (mounted at approximately rows 6-10), which means less noise and vibration. The 2-2 layout means there's no bad seat in terms of access -- every position is window or aisle. Deplaning on a 74-seat aircraft is quick from any row, so the noise advantage of forward seating is the primary consideration.

Window seats on scenic Kimberley routes are worth requesting specifically. The left side often provides better views of the Bungle Bungles, Lake Argyle, and the Ord River on flights in and out of Kununurra. Exit row seats offer extra legroom if available. Avoid the propeller zone (rows 6-10) if noise bothers you. Rear rows (16-19) are quieter than the propeller zone but the furthest from the exit. On the charter light aircraft, seat selection is essentially irrelevant -- every seat has a window view and the aircraft is small enough that all positions are equivalent.