Regional Express, or REX for short, is Australia’s largest regional airline.
It operates a fleet of 55 Saab 340 turboprop aircraft across three variants, and has bases in all of Australia’s main airports, with its principal hub at Sydney Kingsford Smith.
The airline serves 60 destinations across Australia – mostly smaller, remote communities and townships.
Now, however, REX has laid out plans to enter mainline domestic operations within Australia.
Fundraising will take place to enable REX to acquire a fleet of larger jet aircraft to service the new routes and offer greater passenger capacity – sufficient to compete with Qantas and its partners, who are currently the biggest operators on Australia’s domestic network following the demise of Virgin Australia.
REX has also recently entered an agreement with ATR to sell and lease back its 55 Saab 340s with the ultimate plan to replace them with new ATR 42 and 72 turboprops from the Franco-Italian manufacturer.
Rex’s Deputy Chairman, John Sharp, said, “Rex has the biggest regional network in Australia and we are the only carrier in Australia that has been able to successfully navigate the turmoil and shocks over the last two decades with uninterrupted operational profits since 2003.”
“Rex’s domestic operations will be priced at affordable levels but will also include baggage allowance, meals on board and pre-assigned seating. Booking channels will include both Rex direct and Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Lounge membership will be available for subscription. It will be a hybrid model that Rex has so successfully pioneered over the last two decades for its regional operations.”
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