Regional Express (REX), Media Release, 22 September 2023
Rex said the airline is forced to make further reductions to its regional network as the major carriers, particularly the Qantas Group, continued their relentless pillaging of Rex’s pilot group.
The reductions, effective from 30 October, all involve the regional routes serviced by Rex’s fleet of Saab 340 turboprop aircraft. The routes affected are:
- Sydney-Albury
- Sydney-Coffs Harbour
- Sydney-Griffith
- Sydney-Narrandera
- Sydney-Orange
- Sydney-Parkes
- Sydney-Port Macquarie
Rex will also temporarily suspend services between Sydney and Armidale until at least March 30, 2024 and withdraw from the Cairns-Bamaga route in Far North Queensland.
Service reductions on seven other regional routes announced on 21 April, 2023 will continue for at least another five months as will the suspension of flights between Adelaide and Mildura.
“Unlike other carriers, we prefer to reduce the scheduled services so that our passengers can be assured of fewer disruptions and more reliable services,” Rex’s General Manager of Network Strategy, Warrick Lodge, explained.
“We intend to return to the standard flight schedules from 31 March 2024 – however this is subject to the situation improving,” Mr Lodge added.
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 58 Saab 340 and 8 Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 57 destinations throughout all states in Australia. In addition to the airline Rex, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator), the Australian Airline Pilot Academy with campuses in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat, and propeller maintenance organisation, Australian Aerospace Propeller Maintenance. Rex is also a 50% shareholder of National Jet Express (NJE), a premier Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO), charter and freight operator.
