When Virgin started Australia was a very different place. We were in the middle of the biggest mining boom in history.
Not true, Virgin started in 2001 when mining companies were laying off people and most other economies in the world were having recessions. Even if Australia didn't have a recession at that time it was a month-to-month proposition with the numbers being very closely watched. We didn't have a recession, technically, but times were a bit tight.
The mining boom in Australia didn't really kick off till 2007/08.0
Thorn Bird:
A million bucks for an AOC, just to start, can you imagine anyone with any business sense considering that?
Then the $$$ really starts, a hundred grand just to get an aircraft on an AOC, that price climbs proportional to the size and complexity of the aircraft...
If that is what it costs you to get stuff through CASA I suggest you sack your Chief Pilot or whoever manages that side of your business and employ someone competent.
A properly managed application for a low cap RPT AOC should set you back around $25k. Recently added a new type to ours for $5k up front (and still got some change at the end).