MELBOURNE- Suddenly, there is news of new airlines popping out, one such is Koala Airlines, the upcoming low-cost carrier in Australia. The airline aims to challenge incumbent operators with a strategy that significantly deviates from traditional approaches.
Koala Airlines: New Australian Carrier
The company is currently in the final stages of negotiating aircraft acquisitions, which will enable an upgrade to its Air Operators Certificate (AOC). While Koala Airlines has not officially disclosed the aircraft type, images on its website showcase a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (737-8) in the airline’s livery.
Details regarding fleet size and launch date remain undisclosed, though initial operations are expected to focus on domestic routes.
Koala’s market entry coincides with recent turbulence in the Australian aviation sector. In May, low-cost carrier Bonza ceased operations due to financial difficulties, and Regional Express terminated its mainline jet operations as it entered administration.
The airline emphasizes that its strategy will markedly differ from previous market entrants. Unlike many low-cost carriers since 1990 that primarily competed on price, leading to unsustainable competition, Koala Airlines plans to take a more innovative approach.
Koala intends to establish a unique niche in the Australian airline industry, a strategy reminiscent of the now-defunct Bonza, which focused on underserved routes between smaller cities rather than the popular ‘Golden Triangle’ routes connecting Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Desert Air Is now Koala Airlines
Koala Airlines acquired Desert Air Safaris Pty Ltd in 2019, uniting two travel-focused entities to enhance domestic and international travel experiences. Desert Air Safaris, a 50-year veteran in air tours and charter flights, operated throughout Australia, PNG, and the Pacific Islands.
Founded in 1970 by airline pilot Dick Lang and his wife Helen, Desert Air Safaris pioneered accessible travel to the Australian outback and remote destinations. The company introduced the concept of ‘packages’ to the Australian market and operated iconic DC-3 aircraft, later expanding to modern twin-engine planes.
As Australia’s oldest tourism-focused airline, Desert Air Safaris consolidated operations at Adelaide Airport by 1998. The company’s eco-tourism efforts earned recognition through numerous State and Federal Government awards.
Desert Air Safaris’ legacy will continue under the Koala Airlines brand. Koala Airlines aims to build on this rich heritage, focusing on new initiatives and innovations that complement, rather than compete with, established industry norms.
Founding Team
Bill Astling, brings over 45 years of experience in aviation and tourism to his role as Founding CEO of Koala Airlines. His expertise spans aviation management, airline restructuring, operations, aircraft chartering, strategy, and customer service. Astling has led consulting projects for 12 airlines in the Asia Pacific region since the early 1990s, including major carriers like Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Air India (AI). His advisory roles extended to the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia. Astling founded Koala Airlines in March 2018, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge and network.
Phil Le Liu serves as a Director with extensive board and committee experience spanning over 15 years across various industries. In his current elected role at the City of Melbourne, he leads the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Liu also represents the City on the Audit and Risk Committee, overseeing expenditure and risk management for more than 5 years. In 2019, he received recognition as one of the ’40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians’ and won the inaugural Public Sector/Government category.
Sally Spring, Chief Operating Officer (COO) began her aviation career in 1997 with Air UK / KLM UK as Training Supervisor of Flight Operations and Planning. In 2003, Astraeus Airlines recruited her as a senior instructor for Cabin Crew and Flight Crew training and assessment. Spring joined Emirates Airlines in Dubai in 2008, becoming Senior Lecturer and Program Manager at Emirates Aviation University. She managed the Foundation program in collaboration with Coventry University, UK, and lectured on Aviation management, global logistics, supply chain management, and airline commercial operations in the Business School and School of Engineering.
Other Members
CFO and Aviation Consultant: Keith Bolshaw, an Oxford-educated chartered accountant, has contributed to Koala’s development since 2018, maintaining the company’s detailed financial model. With over 30 years of aviation experience, Bolshaw has held senior positions including Board member/CEO roles in various airlines, including a British Airways subsidiary. His expertise extends to aircraft leasing, having worked with major lessors like GPA (GECAS predecessor). As Managing Director of the International Bureau of Aviation (IBA), Bolshaw advised private and public airline owners and top management. His extensive leasing experience, including work with 7 of the world’s top 10 aircraft lessors, positions him to negotiate leases for Koala Airlines.
Head of Business Development: Kelsie Johnston contributes 25 years of board and senior executive experience across private, state, and local government sectors in travel, business, tourism, and events. As Director of Markets at Tourism Western Australia, Johnston led market strategies, operations, and marketing activities across eleven international and domestic markets. Her outstanding contributions to the tourism industry earned her the prestigious Australian Tourism Export Council Award.
CAM (Continuous Airworthiness Manager): Unni Nair’s aviation career began at Singapore Airlines, where he worked for 20 years in various positions on Airbus and Boeing aircraft, culminating in his role as Senior Quality Engineer (Investigations and Human Factors). Nair then spent 8 years as Head of Safety for AMSA in Australia, a Singapore Airlines subsidiary. Joining Koala Airlines in 2019 as the Continuous Airworthiness Manager, Nair oversees aircraft maintenance, engineering, and compliance with CASA directives, ensuring the airline’s operational safety and regulatory adherence.
Scott Kefford serves as the Head of Flight Operations and Anton Meryl Nithianandan is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) / Koala Tech.
The airline has also filled positions for
- CEO designate
- CFO
- Head of Commercial
- General Counsel
- Head of Cabin Crew
- Chief of Human Resources
The Melbourne-based carrier says they all are experienced executives to head the airline as it begins its operations.
Apart from this we recently published articles on upcoming airlines in Asia. which includes:
Air Ceilao in Sri Lanka: Air Ceilao: Sri Lanka’s New Airline to Start Operations Soon – Aviation A2Z
Alhind Airlines in India: New: Alhind Airlines to Start Flights by Q4 2024 Hires Ex-SpiceJet CCO as CEO – Aviation A2Z
What are your thoughts on Koala Airlines? Will it challenge the duopoly of Qantas (QF) and Virgin Australia (VA)? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Koala Airlines FAQs
Koala Airlines was founded in 2018 by its founding CEO Bill Astling. It acquired Desert Air Safari operator in 2019.
Koala Airlines is in the phase of upgrading its existing Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with a new aircraft type and can begin operations by the end of 2024 or in 2025 (no official confirmation yet).
By looking at the Koala Airlines official website, the Australian carrier aims to acquire Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
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