Regional Express (Rex), Australia’s largest independent regional airline has invited expressions of interest from regional cities in New South Wales interested in having a Regular Public Transport (RPT) air service to/from Sydney. The airline, operates a fleet of more than 40 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 35 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, is seeking to fill a void following the closure of Brindabella Airlines

“This is a very rare opportunity for regional NSW to have a good new air service as there are no more available slots in the peak hours at Sydney airport.”

Garry Filmer
Chief Operating Officer, Regional Express

Following a network review and the recruitment of 14 pilots from the recently collapsed Brindabella Airlines, Rex says it has “a window of opportunity” to offer RPT services to a city within a 600 km radius from Sydney airport, not already serviced by Rex. This would be in addition to new services to Cobar and Mudgee which are being contemplated by its subsidiary Air Link.

Rex plans to allocate key city peak morning and evening slots at Sydney airport to the new services which will allow professionals to conduct a full day of business in Sydney and return home the same day, while a third weekday rotation will support other business needs and leisure demand.

"This is a very rare opportunity for regional NSW to have a good new air service as there are no more available slots in the peak hours at Sydney airport,” explained Garry Filmer, chief operating officer, Regional Express.

”I invite local councils that are interested to write to us immediately as a decision has to be made within three weeks. Only cities that can sustain above 30,000 annual passengers will be considered. We hope to commence the new operations in March or April subject to regulatory approvals," he added. The carrier has set a deadline of January 31, 2014 for all expressions of interest.

Rex is part of the larger Rex Group which also comprises air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo-based regional airline Air Link, as well as the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.