Australian carrier Regional Express (Rex) Group has announced its intention to serve three of the North South Wales markets previously served by Brindabella Airlines prior to its closure earlier this month. In response to a Transport for NSW announcement that Brindabella Airlines’ NSW licensed routes will be revoked and made available to new operators under a transitional arrangement up until March 21, 2014, Rex said it intends to apply for the Moree, Cobar and Mudgee routes.
Rex’s general manager for network strategy and sales, Warrick Lodge, said that Rex had completed its network review for NSW and would be in a position to begin regular passenger transport services, subject to regulatory approval, to Moree by February 3, 2014 (coinciding with the start of the new slots allocation period). In addition, Rex's subsidiary Air Link would be able to operate some services to Cobar from January 6, 2014, expanding to a full twice-daily service by February 10, 2014. On this same date, Rex would also be able to provide a dedicated daily service for Mudgee with possibly a second daily return via Dubbo.
“Rex intends to draw upon its extensive NSW network and regional slot pool for access into Sydney airport to provide Moree with a prime time early morning departure to Sydney with an evening return to provide for a full day’s business in Sydney,” said Lodge. “At a time when regional aviation is facing an uncertain future, Rex would be offering these communities a high quality airline operation assuring certainty of the future of their air services.”
Brindabella Airlines was established in 1994 but was placed into receivership on December 15, 2013 after eight of its 12 aircraft had been grounded for maintenance reviews by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The airline had provided key regional connections within Australia, some of which provided essential air links for medical and business purposes,
“I have commenced discussions with most of the local councils to draw up partnership agreements that will provide these communities with an assurance of Rex's reliable, safe and sustainable services many years into the future,” added Lodge.
Related Content
