Regional flights cancelled, delayed after Rex Airlines enters voluntary administration

Rex flights in and out of Adelaide on Wednesday have been cancelled and delayed after the airline announced it would enter voluntary administration.

• How to rebook cancelled Rex flights

Regional flights in and out of Adelaide have been delayed and cancelled after an embattled airline grounded its fleet flying between major airports.

Rex Airlines flights between Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Coober Pedy were affected on Wednesday just hours after the airline announced it had entered voluntary administration.

But an Adelaide Airport spokesman said the cancellation and delays to regional flights were understood to be operational and unrelated to the announcement by Rex.

“Adelaide Airport will work with administrators of Rex Airlines to help support the continued operation of regional routes in South Australia,” an Adelaide Airport spokesman said.

“Rex’s administrator is expected to continue to fly from Adelaide to Port Lincoln, Mt Gambier, Broken Hill, Ceduna and Coober Pedy.

“Flights to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth have now been cancelled by the Rex administration.”

Rex Airlines to and from regional locations in SA were expected to continue operating despite the announcement. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

The spokesman said a strong regional network was “vitally important”, particularly on Rex routes which were not serviced by other airlines.

Regional services are expected to be unaffected by the announcement so far, with the airline providing the only flights from Adelaide to Broken Hill, Ceduna and Coober Pedy.

“This is a difficult time and we will do all we can to support Rex staff affected by this decision along with customers whose travel plans have been impacted,” the airport spokesman said.

“Adelaide Airport’s customer care and volunteer ambassador team are in the terminal this morning assisting any Rex passengers with their inquiries.”

Prior to their announcement, Rex was flying to Melbourne out of Adelaide twice daily each week and one flight per day to Sydney and Brisbane.

It operated three flights a week to Perth.

In a statement on its website, Rex Group announced that regional planes would continue flying as scheduled while all domestic passengers could rebook cancelled flights between major cities with Virgin Australia at no extra cost.

Refunds would not be offered.

Former senator Rex Patrick said the airline provided an “essential service”.

“The government has to make sure we do not lose these regional services that are critical,” he told Radio FIVEAA on Wednesday morning.

Premier Peter Malinauskas told Sky News on Wednesday he was concerned about the airline’s demise but questioned whether it was up to governments to subsidise commercial operations.

“I think that should be avoided as best as possible. That being said, I do think ... what Rex do on some routes is a genuine community service, particularly for those far isolated communities.”