Coal miner Glencore and gold miner Newmont have signed on for contract extensions of three and five years respectively for Alliance’s FIFO operations, which serve Glencore’s mine at Emerald, Queensland, and Newmont’s mine at Tanami in the Northern Territory.

The news comes after the airline’s administrator earlier last week admitted to the federal court it was “not in a position” to prevent its leased aircraft from leaving Australia.

At a creditors meeting on Friday, administrator Hall Chadwick said there are half a dozen “very interested parties” looking at Bonza, raising hopes the carrier could continue with new investment.

In a statement released on Friday morning, liquidator Ernst & Young said stranded passengers would be “informed of this disruption” and booked on flights when operations resume. The existing management team will also remain in place.

The multi-million-dollar investment includes refurbishments to the RAAF Base Tindal Fire Station, a community building, and security alarm upgrades.

A station could be built on existing land that was planned to house it in the 1980s, said Avalon CEO Tony Brun, who added that the airport already owns the necessary land and is willing to chip in money to support the project. According to Brun, a rail link would be “transformative” for the airport.