Five months after reducing nine regional flights across NSW, Vic, Qld and SA, Rex has announced another major network decrease, this time impacting Sydney services only.
In a statement released today, Rex said it would be reducing seven regional flights out of Sydney, with the changes coming into effect on 30 October 2023.
Operated by Rex’s fleet of Saab 340 turboprop aircraft, the reduced routes include:
- Sydney-Albury
- Sydney-Coffs Harbour
- Sydney-Griffith
- Sydney-Narrandera
- Sydney-Orange
- Sydney-Parkes
- Sydney-Port Macquarie
In addition to these services, Rex will also temporarily suspend services between Sydney and Armidale until at least 30 March 2024, as well as withdraw from the Cairns-Bamaga route in Far North Queensland.
In announcing the cutback, Rex pointed the finger at the major Australian airlines, especially Qantas, for “their relentless pillaging of Rex’s pilot group”.
“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 General Manager of Network Strategy Warrick Lodge said.
“We intend to return to the standard flight schedules from 31 March 2024 – however this is subject to the situation improving.”
Rex also confirmed the routes it reduced earlier in the year, along with its Adelaide-Mildura operation, would remain dormant for at least another five months.
Earlier this month, the carrier unveiled new daily direct flights between Adelaide and Brisbane, to commence on 30 October 2023.
For the year ending 30 June 2023, Regional Express Holdings Limited revealed a statutory profit after tax of $14.4 million. Following a $46.1 million loss in the year prior, the result represented a turnaround of over $60 million for Rex.
Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline, Rex operates a fleet of 58 Saab 340 and eight B737-800NG aircraft to 57 destinations throughout all states in Australia.
