Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)) has been renamed to Virgin Australia Regional (XR, Perth International (PER)), concluding the acquisition and absorption of the Australian domestic operator into the Virgin Group. As of May 7, Skywest will carry the Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) name, with airports and aircraft to be progressively rebranded over the coming months. Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow (LHR)) founder, Richard Branson, was on hand in Perth International (PER) on May 7 to officially launch the regional arm of his airline, which will operate 800 flights a week to 41 destinations across regional Australia.

Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)), initiated in October 2012. It is understood that, while Virgin Australia is now both the de facto and de jure 100% shareholder in the Australian domestic operator, Skywest will continue to operate independently, albeit that all scheduled services will be operated, sold and distributed under the Virgin Australia Regional Airlines brand shortly. At present, Skywest flies ten Fokker 100s and eight Fokker 50s on a variety of routes catering for both the mining community and Western Australian intrastate passenger services. It also operates six ATR72-500s and five ATR72-600s on regional routes on behalf of Virgin Australia. For its part, Virgin Australia says it intends to build on Skywest’s successful charter business and "will look to leverage and expand it across Australia."

Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) has taken the last hurdle for its acquisition of regional carrier Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)) after having received approval for the proposed acquisition by the Singapore High Court. The approvals in Singapore were necessary because Skywest is listed at the Singapore stock exchange. Virgin will now fully own Skywest from April 11 when the acquisition of remaining shares is scheduled to take place. Skywest operates six ATR72-500s and five ATR72-600s on regional routes on behalf of Virgin Australia. It also operates an A320-200, eight Fokker 50s and ten Fokker 100s on own scheduled services and on charters on behalf of Australian mining companies.

Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)) has agreed with Singapore based lessor Avation to take delivery of three additional new ATR 72-600s. Skywest already operates two ATR 72-600s on behalf of its future parent Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) alongside six ATR 72-500s. Prior to announcing this additional transaction, it already had an additional 7 ATR 72-600s on order.

Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International (BNE)) has announced that it has agreed in principle to acquire 100% of its publicly listed partner Skywest Airlines (Australia) (XR, Perth International (PER)) and will make a cash and shares offer to its existing shareholders. Skywest currently operates six ATR 72-500s and two ATR 72-600s on behalf of Virgin Australia on regional services from Brisbane and Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD). Skywest's remaining fleet consists of an A320-200, ten Fokker 100s and eight Fokker 50s that operate scheduled services as well as mining charters in Western Australia. Virgin Australia has announced two separate transactions on the same day including a plan to acquire 60% in low-cost carrier Tiger Airways Australia (TT, Melbourne Tullamarine International (MEL)) from Tiger Airways (TR, Singapore Changi International (SIN)) for $35 million AUD ($36 million USD). Tiger and Virgin plan to expand Tiger's Australia based A320-200 fleet from 11 to 35 aircraft by 2018 to establish it as a more relevant competitor to Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD))'s JetStar Airways (JQ, Melbourne Tullamarine International (MEL)) low-cost carrier subsidiary. Tiger shareholder Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi International (SIN)) will take a 10% stake in Virgin Australia as part of the cooperation the two carriers have already launched.