Australian carrier Alliance Airlines expects its full year profit before tax to come in above A$32.5 million ($22.5 million), about 25% higher than its result for the previous financial year.

If confirmed, it will be the largest full-year profit in the carrier's 17-year history.

Alliance's financial year ends on 30 June, and it will announce its full results on 8 August.

Chief executive Lee Schofield says that the stronger result is being driven by significant growth of its business as it continued to diversify into other areas while continuing to win contracts in its core resource charter market.

"We now have four different flying categories (contract – mining and tourism, charter, wet lease and scheduled airline services) and operate regularly to over 50 destinations," he states.

The carrier operates 38 Fokker aircraft, comprised of 23 F100s, 10 F70s and five F50 turboprops. By the end of the calendar year is set to grow to 44 as it takes additional F100s and F70s.

As well as resource charter operations, Alliance has a close codeshare and wet-lease relationship with Virgin Australia.

This year, however, it has been the target of rival carrier Qantas, which now owns a 20% stake in Alliance and has signalled that it will seek regulatory clearance to take control of it.

Source: Cirium Dashboard