Rex Airlines

Regional Express' facility at Wagga Wagga Airport in June 2008

The airline was established in 2002 when the Australiawide Airlines consortium (set up by former Ansett Australia employees) acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, merged the two companies and started operations in August 2002 as Rex.[1] In 2005, Australiawide Airlines was renamed Regional Express Holdings and partially floated on the Australian Securities Exchange.[2] On 30 November 2005, Rex announced the acquisition of the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline.[3]

In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough.[4] This exacerbated an existing problem within the company of not having enough pilots to crew its flights (due to the expansion of larger airlines, especially Jetstar and Virgin Blue),[5][6] and Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane[7] (and from Sydney to Cooma during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields)[8] in November 2007. To provide a medium-term solution to the pilot shortage, Rex announced that it was establishing a cadet-pilot flight-training programme.[9]

In November 2015, Rex announced the resumption of services to the NSW Snowy Mountains in conjunction with Snowy Mountains Airport Corporation. The flights commenced in March 2016.[10] In December 2015, Rex announced that it would be commencing operations in Western Australia in February the following year after being selected by the Government of Western Australia to be the operator of regulated RPT routes after a tender process. Initially operating between Perth to Albany and Esperance, in July 2018 the Western Australian operations expanded to include Carnarvon and Monkey Mia. It brought Rex's weekly flights to some 1,500 across 60 destinations.[11]

As of 6 April 2020, Rex has significantly scaled back all its regional services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to only offer Government subsidised services within Queensland and Western Australia and one flight a week between all 54 regional and remote communities within its route network. Adelaide to Port Augusta, Sydney to Newcastle and Sydney to Armidale services were suspended.[12]

In June 2020, Rex announced interest in expanding into the domestic airline market with operations to commence in 2021 between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Rex leased six Boeing 737-800s with the first delivered in November 2020.[13] The first jet operations are planned to begin on 1 March 2021 on the Sydney to Melbourne route.[14]

Additionally Rex announced that it had entered into a memorandum of understanding with ATR to explore options for replacing the Saab 340 fleet with ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft.[15]

Saab 340B aircraft at Wagga Wagga Airport in October 2017

Fairchild Metro 23 at Sydney Airport in May 2005

Rex operates the world's largest fleet of Saab 340 aircraft.[16] The delivery of 25 ex-American Eagle Airlines Saab 340B Plus aircraft started in mid-2007 and enabled the expansion of services and the phase-out of the airline's Saab 340As, and some older B models. The 340B Plus has a quieter and more comfortable interior.

In July 2008 the company announced that all of its 340As would be phased out; however one rejoined the fleet in July 2015 after a 7-year stint with Rex's subsidiary airline Pel-Air and remains in service as of January 2020.[17][18][19]

The airline also previously operated some Fairchild Metro 23 aircraft seating 19 passengers but were phased out.

As of October 2020, the airline operated an all Saab 340 fleet with three variants of the type.[19]

In June 2020, Rex leased six Boeing 737-800s with the first delivered in November 2020, and the further five to be delivered by March 2021.[13]

• 21 February 2016: A Regional Express Airlines Saab 340B, registered VH-ZLA, was forced to take evasive action to avoid a glider while operating from Orange Airport. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the Rex aircraft was climbing through 7,500 ft after departing Orange when the crew sighted the glider in “close proximity”, and took evasive action.[21]
• On 17 March 2017, the right propeller sheared off a Regional Express Saab 340B, tail number VH-NRX, while operating flight ZL768 from Albury to Sydney. The pilot made a pan-pan call but was able to land the plane without incident. The ATSB after investigating found a fatigue crack in the engine's propeller mounting flange.[22]
• On 29 August 2019, a Regional Express Saab 340B, registration VH-RXX, the crew received a right engine fire indication followed by a loud bang while they were shutting the engine down. The aircraft landed at the planned destination of Merimbula without further incident. The ATSB discovered that the indication and subsequent engine failure was caused by an internal oil fire weakening the turbine blades.[23]

Australian Airline Pilot Academy hangar at Wagga Wagga Airport

In November 2007 Regional Express Airlines and Mangalore Airport Pty Limited created a joint venture pilot academy called the Civil Aviation Training Academy, based at Mangalore Airport in Victoria.[24] In April 2008 Regional Express Airlines fully acquired the Civil Aviation Training Academy and it was renamed to Australian Airline Pilot Academy.[25]

On 18 February 2009, Regional Express Airlines announced that the Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) would be relocated from Mangalore Airport to Wagga Wagga Airport in partnership with the City of Wagga Wagga starting in April 2009.[26][27]

On 27 May 2010, the AAPA campus at Wagga Wagga Airport was officially opened by Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese.[28]

• List of airlines of Australia

Media related to Regional Express at Wikimedia Commons