Mount Isa is a mining town in the Queensland Outback. I’m not sure where I got the idea to visit. I guess I’m just curious to see what a place looks like that’s a bit off the beaten track. Clearly, the fact that I’m travelling there by Saab 340 sweetens the deal. When I was much younger, Crossair had a large fleet of Saab 340s, which they operated out of Basel, Geneva, and Zürich. I went all over Europe with those things and their larger and fast successor, the Saab 2000.
Routing
> ZRH LH Y FRA A319
> FRA AF C CDG E195
> CDG AF C SIN B77W
> SIN SQ C CNS A359
> CNS ZL Y ISA SF34
> ISA QF Y TSV DH8D
> TSV QF Y CNS DH8D
> CNS QF C DRW E190
> DRW QF C SYD B738
> SYD KE C ICN B781
> ICN KL C AMS B789
> AMS KL C FRA E175
> FRA EN Y BSL E190
Getting to the Airport
The taxi comes to pick me up from the Cairns Shangri-La at 05h00. The flight to Mount Isa will depart at 06h30. The journey takes about fifteen minutes to the domestic terminal and costs around AUD35. The airport is surprisingly busy when I arrive.
REX Economy Class Check-In
There are two dedicated counters for REX passengers to check-in, one for Economy Class and the other for Priority Check-In. The young lady tags my suitcase and hands me a printed boarding pass, even though I already checked in online.
The security check is quick and efficient. Once I’m through, my first mission is to find sustenance. I’m starving! Fortunately, at 05h30 in the morning the terminal is lively and all the shops are already open. I get myself a flat white and two slices of sourdough toast from one of the outlets and all is good.
REX Boarding
Boarding for the flight to Mount Isa starts on time, at 06h00. It is interesting that although the aircraft is parked on a remote stand quite a distance from the terminal, there is no bus that will be bringing us there – we’re all just going to have to walk, which suits me just fine despite the rain.
REX Cabin & Seat
I step aboard the aircraft and make a right turn into the cabin, and for a moment I’m overwhelmed by the strong sense of nostalgia that hits me. The cabin is showing its age but is well maintained, and despite everything being in mini format, it’s comfortable. The seats are spacious, and once I’ve settled in, the seat pitch is generous.
REX Crew & Service
There are three crew on this flight, two on the flight deck and one cabin crew. The first officer is standing outside in the pouring rain looking like a fitness model in his soaked shirt as we board. The cabin crew is a friendly young lady who just oozes competence. I’m not sure how anybody can be so chirpy and alert at this time of morning. She informs us of a flight time to Mount Isa of two hours exactly, which is definitely the longest time I’ve ever spent in one stretch on the Saab 340.
Cairns Airport sits between the sea shore and a range of steep hills that curve around the bay. Once we’re airborne, we have to make a sharp left turn out toward the open sea, and then turn back inland once we have enough altitude to safely clear the hills.
REX Snack
Once we’ve settled into the cruise, the cabin crew comes to take orders for snacks and drinks. I have a coffee with milk, a still water, and a packet of pretzels. The sweet alternative for the pretzels would have been a mango slice, which simply doesn’t sound very appealing.
Arrival in Mount Isa
Gradually, the rain clouds dissipate and give way to some beautiful views of the ground and the dark red colour of the centre of Australia. It’s an amazing sight, with the rising sun casting strange shadows.
On the approach we come in low over Lake Moondarra. Off to the left I can already see the mine and the town. We land shortly after and taxi to our stand, which doesn’t take long. The first officer disembarks first to secure the propeller. The shirt appears to have dried in the meantime. We walk to the terminal, and by the time I reach the airport’s sole luggage belt, ours are the last two cases left on it, and it’s not even moving anymore. I step outside and catch the only taxi standing there to take me into town.
In Mount Isa I’m staying at the Ibis Styles Verona, which is located in the centre of town and close to Café Bambino, which serves excellent breakfasts and lunch.
Conclusion – REX
Apart form the fact that it was nice to be back on a Saab 340 after all these years, this trip was interesting too – it highlighted the importance of having regular and reliable air service in such a vast country as Australia, providing a vital connection for remote communities like Mount Isa to the outside world. The only other flight connections from Mount Isa, as far as I can tell, are with QANTAS to Townsville or Brisbane. It’s either that or a drive of nearly fourteen hours by car on some interesting roads.