Rex selected as operator for Western Australian routes

The Western Australian (WA) Government has today announced Regional Express (Rex) as the operator of two routes in its review of regulated Regular Public Transport (RPT) air services in the state.

This confers on Rex the sole right to operate on these routes for the next five years beginning on 28 February 2016. The deed of agreement to operate the routes was signed on Monday 7 December.

This results in the nation’s largest independent regional airline operating in WA for the first time.

The two WA routes are:

– Perth to Esperance

– Perth to Albany

This announcement follows the recent award to Rex of five of the seven regulated routes in Queensland and eight of the ten regulated routes in New South Wales.

Rex’s General Manager for Network Strategy & Sales Mr Warrick Lodge said: “Rex is honoured to be selected by the WA State Government to provide essential regional air services between Perth and the regional communities of Albany and Esperance.”

“We have noted in the public media and the parliamentary debates the considerable dissatisfaction and disquiet of the WA public over its regional air services. Rex is without doubt Australia’s most efficient and trusted regional airline and we pledge to live up to our reputation for safe, reliable and affordable air service with country hospitality from the very first day of operations on 28 February 2016.”

“However, we need to highlight that current airport charges at Albany and Esperance are significantly higher than in Rex’s eastern network. Rex will work hard with the councils to reduce this cost but if this is not successful then inevitably ticket prices will have to reflect this.”

Rex senior executives are visiting Esperance and Albany today in conjunction with the Minister for Transport to meet with all local stakeholders to understand the local issues and to explain Rex’s proposal as well as to work out a partnership approach to bring the best possible outcome for the travelling public.

Formed in 2002 following the Ansett Collapse, but having a history that extends for more than 40 years through Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, Rex provides safe, reliable and affordable regional air services to 54 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland on some 1,400 weekly flights.

Rex is a publicly listed company on the ASX with more than 1,000 employees. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo-based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.

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