Alliance Aviation Services says it has entered into a binding purchase agreement with Swiss airline, Helvetic Airways AG, for the purchase of five Fokker 100 aircraft and the entirety of Helvetic’s spare engines, parts and tooling offering.

This acquisition continues to build on the strategic rationale of Alliance’s purchase of 21 Fokker aircraft from Austrian Airlines, in December 2015, the company says, enhancing the company’s ability to expand its fleet as more opportunities present themselves in Australia and the South Pacific. This is particularly so in contract aviation and wet lease services, the company said.

Alliance has several aviation contracts in place with mining companies with operations in remote parts of Australia that have a fly-in fly-out service for their employees.

The rationale for the deal, according to Alliance, includes boosting the economic life of Alliance’s fleet and reducing future capital expenditure requirements by securing low cost major components; reinforcing Alliance’s position as the largest supplier of engines and spare parts outside of Fokker; and further diversifying Alliance’s revenue streams.

Scott McMillan, Managing Director for Alliance Airlines, said: “Since the 2015 fleet purchase, we have increased our operational fleet by 11 aircraft to meet the needs of a resurgent resources sector, satisfy the demand for wet-lease services and service the growing opportunities within the tourism sector. We have also successfully on-sold several of the Austrian fleet as well establishing ongoing engine leases and we continue to sell increasing amounts of spare parts to all the major Fokker operators in the southern hemisphere.”