Administrators McLeod & Partners have been appointed after regional carrier JetGo Australia entered into voluntary administration, with all passenger operations expected to remain temporarily suspended after they ceased on 1 June.
The Brisbane-based airline services many cities across regional Australia including Wollongong, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Albury in New South Wales, Rockhampton and Townsville in Queensland and Karratha in Western Australia. Some limited charter options will continue while the administrators are “assessing the viability of the future operations,” said the company in a statement.
The move came following legal action in the Supreme Court by a regional council in western New South Wales, which lodged a claim requesting the airline be wound up over unpaid debts. Other councils are also believed to be owed money. JetGo has previously said the council in Dubbo had reneged on a previous agreement to waive taxes as part of an incentive agreement.
A hearing is due to be held in the Supreme Court on 18 June. The council says it is owed more than Aus$270,000.
Only two of the carrier’s fleet of six jets were flying prior to the administrator’s appointment. An estimated 4,045 passengers will be affected in the month of June by the suspension of services.
Qantas is assisting JetGo’s passengers impacted by the suspension with other flight options.
