Mining company BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP) has chosen Skywest Airlines Limited (ASX:SXR) as its preferred vendor to provide air charter services for its new Jimblebar mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. 

 

The regional airline says the initial contracted charter services are planned to start with twice daily flights between Perth and Newman once a week. 

 

Skywest expects flights and capacity to increase over the term of the 21 month contract. 

Executive Chairman Jeff Chatfield says the latest BHP contract further underpins Skywest’s scheduled fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) charter business which provides a growing revenue stream.

Skywest posted a net profit of $5.5 million in the 2012 financial year.