Mineral Resources (MinRes) has achieved a significant milestone in its fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) operations with the commencement of direct flights from Brisbane to two key mine sites in the Pilbara region.
In collaboration with the Australian-owned airline Skytraders, MinRes has initiated weekly return flights between Brisbane’s Avcair terminal and its Ken’s Bore and Wodgina mine sites. This new flight route spanning 3700km aims to notably reduce both travel time and expenses for employees and contractors residing in Queensland or other parts of Australia’s eastern coast.
Bethanie Ibrahim, MinRes’ general manager of people facilities, emphasized the benefits of these direct interstate flights, stating, “For many of our workforce who live in Queensland or elsewhere on the east coast, these services will reduce their travel time by one full day.”
Ken’s Bore serves as a pivotal location within the Onslow Iron project, one of Australia’s largest iron ore endeavours presently under construction. Operational since last year, Ken’s Bore Airport facilitates direct flights for Perth-based teams working on the project.
The launch of the weekly direct service between Brisbane and Wodgina, another MinRes site equipped with its airport, is scheduled for this month.
Andrea Chapman, MinRes’ executive general manager of people, highlighted the positive impact of these direct services on reducing fatigue and providing employees with more quality time to spend with their families and friends.
MinRes is dedicated to transforming the FIFO experience, as evidenced by initiatives such as constructing resort-style accommodations and offering industry-leading food services. The company recently introduced its accommodation pods at Ken’s Bore earlier in 2024, equipped with various amenities aimed at enhancing workers’ downtime and overall lifestyle experience.
