Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility
Learn about Alliance Aviation's transformative project with NAIF funding, enhancing Rockhampton's aviation landscape.
August 2021
Transport & Logistics
Rockhampton, QLD
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) provided a loan to support the development of the Alliance Airlines Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility at Rockhampton Airport in Queensland in August 2021.
This funding supported the construction of a dedicated aircraft and maintenance facility, allowing Alliance Airlines to bring heavy base maintenance of its fleet back to Australia after previously conducting this work overseas.
About Alliance Airlines
Alliance Airlines is a leading ASX-listed provider of aviation services in Australasia, specialising in contract, charter, and maintenance solutions for the mining, energy, tourism, and government sectors.
As Australia’s largest contract aviator, Alliance Airlines has supported key industries across northern Australia since 2002, delivering critical services and creating local employment opportunities. The company’s continued growth has reinforced its vital role in strengthening regional connectivity and supporting economic development throughout the region.
Project Overview
NAIF funding enabled the creation of a state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Rockhampton Airport, featuring advanced hangars, specialised workshops, engineering and training spaces, and secure apron areas for large aircraft.
Designed to accommodate Alliance’s Fokker and Embraer fleets, the facility also incorporates a component overhaul workshop, modern parts storage, and environmentally sustainable features such as energy-efficient lighting and advanced waste management systems.
This infrastructure strengthens operational certainty, improves cost control, and ensures Alliance can oversee long-term maintenance needs within Australia.
How We Helped
NAIF’s concessional loan of up to $30 million enabled Alliance Aviation Services Limited to establish a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance hub at Rockhampton Airport.
The funding helped de-risk the significant capital investment, accelerate project delivery, and support the relocation of base maintenance operations from overseas to regional Queensland. Beyond delivering advanced technical capabilities, the facility strengthens Australia’s sovereign aviation capacity while driving regional growth through skilled job creation, supply chain opportunities, and positioning Rockhampton as a key aviation centre in northern Australia.
Public Benefit
The project is forecast to deliver a broad range of significant benefits to Rockhampton and Central Queensland.
The present value of the economic impact to gross regional product (GRP) in the Rockhampton region during the construction and operations phases is estimated to be $342 million over 30 years.
Related Links
Indigenous Engagement
- The Darumbal people
Rockhampton, lies at the heart of Darumbal Country. Darumbal Country encompasses Tunuba (Fitzroy River) and stretches from the Styx River in the north to Raglan Creek in the south, and from the coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef in the east to Westwood and the base of the Mt Morgan Range in the west. Darumbal Country is home to clan groups, including Kuinmabra, Nindybul, Tarumbul, and Warabal, each holding deep cultural and spiritual connections to specific areas within the region. Darumbal Enterprises plays a vital role in empowering the community through cultural heritage management, community programs, and caring for land and sea country.
Indigenous Engagement Strategy Commitments
- Facilitate engagement between the contractor and key stakeholders to explore opportunities for First Nations businesses to provide construction services for the Hangar and Technical Annex.
- A target of 7% Indigenous employment through apprenticeships and operational positions, as well as a 7% Indigenous procurement target during the project's construction phase.
- Collaboration with CQUniversity and TAFE QLD to develop an apprenticeship program specifically designed to train Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in Rockhampton. They are actively engaging with First Nations businesses and promoting First Nations employment opportunities through a partnership with the Central Queensland Indigenous Business Consortium.
Indigenous Engagement Strategy Outcomes
- In 2022 and 2023, Alliance Airlines achieved 14.9% Indigenous employment during the construction phase and engaged with key Indigenous stakeholders, including the Central Queensland Indigenous Business Alliance and Darumbal Enterprises. A Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (LAME) apprenticeship program was launched with 30 student participants, including 3 Indigenous students from local high schools.
- Indigenous procurement during the construction phase reached over $880,000. Significant contracts were awarded to local First Nations suppliers, with Walawaani Workforce and Tunuba Pty Ltd playing key roles in the hangar construction.
- In 2023 and 2024, Alliance maintained 5.5% Indigenous employment at the Rockhampton Maintenance Facility and 4.3% First Nations enrolment in the Aviation Australia vocational educational in school program.
