Tag Archives: REX (Regional Express Airlines)

Rex Airlines drops service to another five destinations, blames QANTAS

Rex Airlines (REX-Regional Express) today confirmed the withdrawal of services from the following five regional centers:

 Bathurst
 Grafton
 Lismore
 Kangaroo Island
 Ballina
Flights to these five destinations will cease on June 30, 2022 coinciding with the end of the Federal Government’s Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program, except for the Ballina route, which will terminate on July 2.

Two other NSW regional routes are pending further review.

Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said, “Rex has faithfully serviced most of these routes for 20 years and some of them for more than 30 years by Rex’s predecessor Kendell and Hazelton. So it is with a really heavy heart that we have to announce the cessation of services in an effort to improve Rex’s financial performance. Qantas’ well-publicised predatory actions on Rex’s regional routes have meant that Rex no longer has the ability to cross subsidise these marginal routes”.

“It is unfortunate that these regional communities are the collateral damage of Qantas’ bullying and heartless behaviour. This behaviour is all the more unconscionable after receiving over $2 billion in Federal bailouts over the past 2 years.”

Rex’s remaining regional network will be closely monitored and further adjustments could be announced in the coming months.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 Saab 340 and 6 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft to 62 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) and the two pilot academies, Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.

Rex Airlines Route Map:

Rex Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

REX adds another Boeing 737-800, drops the Albury – Melbourne route after 39 years

REX has announced it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a lessor for the lease of one Boeing 737-800NG. The aircraft is expected to be available for service after its major check.

In other news, Rex has announced the airline will withdraw from the Albury-Melbourne route later this month.

“This route is the casualty of Qantas’ illegal predatory behavior to drive out competition in a war of attrition, knowing that its competitors do not have the balance sheet to lose money indefinitely,” Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said.

“Pre-COVID, 22,000 passengers a year flew between Albury and Melbourne, hardly enough passengers for one carrier let alone two. Qantas then entered the route – one of nine Rex regional routes targeted by Qantas during the COVID pandemic – dumping an additional 31,000 seats annually into the market.”

“It is with a heavy heart that we have to exit this route, after servicing it faithfully for the last 39 years. Rex has no choice but to look after itself. Sadly for the community, we will soon see Qantas providing only a token service once it sees that it has achieved its objectives.”

The last REX flight between Albury and Melbourne will operate on May 29, 2022.

We’re thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with Delta Air Lines. Starting in late 2022, Rex passengers will be able to easily connect on Delta’s daily, non-stop flights between Sydney and Los Angeles to nearly 50 cities in the U.S. and Latin America. pic.twitter.com/l1Y17Hgd4V

— Rex Airlines (@RexAirlines) May 1, 2022

REX aircraft photo gallery:

REX to reinstate Boeing 737-800 services connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra

REX Airlines will reinstate its six Boeing 737-800s on the routes linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra on November 15.

The fleet has been grounded since July due to state closures.

REX secures two additional Boeing 737-800s

Rex today announced it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a lessor for the lease of two Boeing 737-800NGs.

The two aircraft are expected to arrive in late August, increasing the 737 fleet to eight, and are scheduled to enter service on Rex’s domestic network in September.

Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said, “It was only in November last year that we confirmed financing for Rex’s foray into the domestic market and within six months we have already obtained approval for the jet operations on our Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), recruited and trained crews and engineers, procured six aircraft and started operations on five domestic routes, with the first services commencing on March 1, 2021.

Rex currently operates 737 services from Melbourne to Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Canberra and from Sydney to Gold Coast. The two additional aircraft will provide Rex with the ability to launch new routes to other capital cities, large regional centres and popular leisure destinations.

The new routes will be announced shortly.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 Saab 340 and six Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 61 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) and the two pilot academies, Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.

We are eager to take off from Melbourne to Canberra however due to the extended lockdown in the Victorian capital we have had to postpone the inaugural flight to Friday 18 June 2021. pic.twitter.com/FdqTGQcviE

— Rex Airlines (@RexAirlines) June 4, 2021

Top Copyright Photo: REX (Regional Express Airlines) Boeing 737-8FE WL VH-RQC (msn 33797) SYD (John Adlard). Image: 952654.

REX aircraft slide show:

REX to take on QANTAS with low fares and a larger Boeing 737-800 fleet

REX issued this guidance:

Rex wishes to update the market on the trading conditions of its operations in this Financial Year (FY).

On the regional market front, the overall demand is back to 60% of pre-COVID levels but the recovery is uneven across the States. In Queensland for example, demand has exceeded preCOVID levels with our capacity back to 100% of what it was. Western Australia is also recovering very strongly and is approaching pre-COVID levels.

Rex is cautiously expanding its regional network in an effort to stimulate demand. We are keeping our capacity growth about 5% ahead of demand growth. Rex’s regional capacity is therefore 35% of what it was pre-COVID.

Rex has embarked on an aggressive expansion on new regional routes. Rex started operations in Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie on March 28, 2021. These two large regional cities were monopolized by Qantas. Combined the two centers had about 40% of the number of passengers in Rex’s entire regional network.

Rex will also soon be announcing entry into other Qantas monopoly ports.

With the cessation of JobKeeper and the huge reduction in government assistance from April onwards, Rex’s regional operations appear to be slightly loss-making at the current demand levels. Rex is hopeful that demand will increase in the months ahead to return the regional operations to profitability.

Rex has also successfully launched five domestic routes since March and plans to launch more as it hopes to augment its jet fleet from the six Boeing 737-800NGs currently to 10 by the end of the year.

Rex’s entry into the domestic market has been predictably met by typical Qantas predatory behavior of capacity dumping.

Rex is determined to stand its ground and has introduced neverseen-before full service fares of $39 between Sydney and Melbourne.

Rex’s cash position has improved exponentially. Without counting the cash injection of $50 million from the convertible note issued to PAG (out of a maximum of $150 million), Rex’s unencumbered cash reserves increased by 1,000% compared to March 2020 due to the very strong advanced bookings on its five new domestic and two new regional routes. Rex expects this to improve further as more routes are introduced.

Rex believes that it will finish the FY 2021 with a breakeven situation. Rex is one of the rare airlines in the world able to achieve this incredible outcome during the pandemic whilst at the same time funding the expansion of the business into the domestic airline market.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 Saab 340 and six Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 61 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) and the two pilot academies, Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.

REX Route Map:

Top Copyright Photo: REX (Regional Express Airlines) Boeing 737-8FE WL VH-RQC (msn 33797) SYD (John Adlard). Image: 952671.

REX aircraft slide show:

REX becomes a new Boeing 737 operator, jet services to start on March 1

REX – Regional Express Airlines is entering the competitive interstate domestic mainline market in Australia with six former Virgin Australia 176-seat Boeing 737-800NGs starting in March 2021.

REX jet services between Sydney and Melbourne will commence on March 1, 2021.

REX is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 SAAB 340 aircraft (pre-COVID) on 1,500 weekly flights to 59 destinations throughout all states in Australia.

The pictured VH-RQC was painted in Jakarta and arrived in Sydney on December 24, 2020 (below) to a water canyon salute.

In other news, the airline is also introducing new uniforms with this announcement:

As Rex’s inaugural domestic services between Sydney and Melbourne fast approach, Rex on January 23, 2021 unveiled its refreshed cabin crew uniforms. The new uniform retains the essence of Rex’s signature country hospitality but is presented in a classic yet elegant style. Rex’s National Flight Attendant Manager, Donna Griffith, said, “This fresh new look is intended to update Rex’s signature country hospitality. We have chosen a clean, fuss-free look that is simple yet elegant. Materials and cut have been carefully selected to provide comfort and practicality for my cabin crew.” “We are very proud that our uniforms are not designed by any famous designer. As with everything else we do in Rex, we have done everything in-house, from the design to the selection of material. This is who we are. This is what we do. This is why we are one of the most successful airlines in the world.”

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): REX (Regional Express Airlines) Boeing 737-8FE WL VH-RQC (msn 33797) SYD (John Adlard). Image: 952654.

REX Aircraft Photo Gallery:

REX Slide Show:

REX selected as the preferred tenderer for the Perth – Carnavon/Monkey Mia route

Regional Express – REX (Wagga Wagga) has released this statement:

The West Australian (WA) Government has announced REX as the preferred tenderer for the regulated Perth to Carnarvon/Monkey Mia route.

The announcement follows an extensive competitive tender process by the WA Government and comes on the back of Rex commencing operations in WA in February 2016 to operate the regulated Perth to Albany and Perth to Esperance routes.

Subject to final negotiations in early 2018 , REX will enter into a deed of agreement with the Department of Transport to operate the Perth to Carnarvon/Monkey Mia route for a five – year licence period commencing on July 2, 2018.

The REX livery has been updated with blue-painted engine nacelles.

Photo Above: REX.

Regional Express (REX) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 50 SAAB 340 aircraft on some 1,500 weekly flights to 60 destinations throughout all state s in Australia. In addition to the regional airline Regional Express, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel – Air Aviation (air freight and charter operator), Air Link (Dubbo – based regional airline) and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy .

Top Copyright Photo: REX (Regional Express Airlines) SAAB 340B VH-ZRE (msn 391) SYD (Micheil Keegan). Image: 908308.