Alliance Aviation Services Limited has extended the air charter services to BHP Nickel West for a further five years.

This service, which has been operational since November 2006, was Alliance’s initial service in Western Australia and has become the cornerstone for the company developing a large presence in the state, the company said.

Lee Schofield, Alliance’s CEO, said: “Alliance has worked with BHP Nickel West as a partner in the provision of these services accommodating changes during the resources downturn and now we are experiencing growth of up to 17 charters per week as economic conditions continue to improve.

“As with our other resources customers throughout Australia, we are seeing growth in the number of charters as the current demand for resources is maintained and production increases.”

In July, Alliance won a three-year extension to its aviation services contract with St Barbara’s Leonora gold operations in the state.

BHP Nickel West, meanwhile, has recently signed a mining services contract extension with Thiess, part of the CIMIC Group, to continue operations at the Leinster underground mine.