National Jet Express Expands Fleet As It Mulls Scheduled Flights

National Jet Express (NJE) Embraer E190
Credit: National Jet Express

Australian charter and ‘Fly-In, Fly-Out’ (FIFO) specialist National Jet Express (NJE) is planning to start scheduled services.

Perth-based NJE operates a fleet of seven Embraer 190s and nine De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s. It has steadily expanded its fleet of E190s, having recently added its latest example, as it acquires more contracts.

The airline, which is 50% owned by the Rex Group, is heavily engaged in FIFO services, by which workers in Australia’s large mineral resources sector – including gold, nickel and gas – fly to remote airstrips in Australia’s interior, close to the mining sites.

NJE operates its E190 fleet from Perth to multiple airstrips in the vast Western Australian outback, using a single-class, 104-seat layout. To maximize efficiency, the carrier intersperses its FIFO services with charters around the state.

The company has won a series of recent FIFO contracts and plans to further increase its E190 fleet “when the timings suit.”

NJE does not currently operate any scheduled flights “However, there are plans for them to do so in the near future,” an NJE spokesperson said.  No routes have yet been disclosed.

NJE is a member of the Rex Group of companies. Rex, a major regional operator, holds 50% of NJE.

Alan Dron

Based in London, Alan is Europe & Middle East correspondent at Air Transport World.