NewsBite

John Sharp

December 2024

Lim Kim Hai was executive chairman until earlier this year. He was deposed shortly before the airline collapsed into administration.

Taxpayers set to replace buyout giant as Rex’s biggest creditor

The move would give the government more control over the collapsed regional airline’s future. It comes as ASIC sued four directors alleging they misled investors.

  • Updated
  • Ayesha de Kretser

November 2024

Regional Express ran an air ambulance business along with its passenger services and charter operations before it collapsed.

Labor’s $80m Rex handout angers regional rivals and potential buyers

The government hopes the money will keep the collapsed carrier flying to country towns until next year in the hopes administrators can sell the company.

  • Updated
  • Ayesha de Kretser

August 2024

Inside the boardroom civil war that brought Rex to its knees

Bad blood turned executives at the carrier against one another – just as its major lender was trying to sell the airline’s assets to Bain Capital.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

July 2024

A Regional Express Airlines plane takes off from Melbourne Airport.

Rex’s CEO got juiced-up contract six days before grounding

As Australia’s aviation industry seethed with rumours of Regional Express’ woes, newish CEO Neville Howell had a spot of good luck.

  • Myriam Robin
Lim Kim Hai stepped down as the chairman of Rex last month, but has now called for other directors to go.

Rex faces boardroom coup as Singaporean investors push to oust chair

The largest shareholder of the regional carrier has called for a shareholder vote just a month after he stepped down as the airline’s executive chairman.

  • Kylar Loussikian
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August 2023

Alan Joyce and Anthony Albanese at the Qantas unveiling of its Yes logo last week.

Joyce summonsed to cost of living inquiry over high fares

Qantas boss Alan Joyce will appear before a federal parliamentary inquiry for the first time since 2014 to face a grilling over high airfares and competition.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

July 2023

Rex says it is heading for a $35 million loss to June 30.

Rex waited a week to disclose profit miss to ‘review’ information

While Qantas has upgraded forecasts several times in the past year, the smaller airline told investors it expected a loss of $35 million for the year to June 30.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
John Sharp is confident that the skies will clear in 2024.

Rex is on a different flight path to other airline stocks

Regional Express shares have halved since it secured the funds to expand into the golden triangle.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

April 2023

The focus on electrified flight bucks the conventional wisdom at the larger domestic carriers Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Rex takes big stake in electric air travel start-up

Dovetail, the electric aviation start-up backed by the company behind Sydney Seaplanes, has a new shareholder.

  • Lucas Baird

March 2023

John Sharp in the garden of his NSW Southern Highlands estate.

Stuck in a time warp with Rex’s John Sharp

Rex is the Spirit of Bygone Australia. It may be time to broaden its appeal.

  • Joe Aston

Rex boss: ‘Who’s flying from Coffs Harbour to Maroochydore?’

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp is bemused by the decision of rival regional airline operator Bonza to fly on smaller regional routes.

  • Sally Patten
John Sharp in the garden of his 200 acre property in the Southern Highlands.

Why Rex’s boss put pork schnitzel back on in-flight menus

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp is working to lure travellers back to the regional airline after COVID.

  • Sally Patten

December 2022

Qantas chief Alan Joyce at the group’s AGM this month.

‘Fair enough’: Alan Joyce reflects on criticism as airlines mull 2023

Qantas boss Alan Joyce acknowledges the airline let customers down in 2022.

  • Lucas Baird and Jenny Wiggins

August 2022

Rex trips to record loss but conditions ‘improving’

The after-tax loss reached $46.1 million in the 2022 financial year, a steep fall from the $3.9 million loss reported in the 2021 period.

  • Lucas Baird

July 2022

“Rex has continued to advance and move into the domestic market space and now into this fly-in, fly-out business,” deputy chairman John Sharp says.

Rex eyes growth with $48m purchase of Cobham FIFO unit

Deputy chairman John Sharp says fly in, fly out services provide ‘more predictable’ revenues than the carrier’s regular commercial flights.

  • Lucas Baird
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May 2022

Delta will not only connect international travellers on Rex’s trunk domestic routes, but could also allow them easy access to Rex’s expansive network of over 60 routes throughout regional Australia,” Mr Sharp said.

Rex, Delta tie the knot after Virgin divorce

Regional Express has taken its first tentative steps into the international air travel market with a new letter of intent with US carrier Delta.

  • Lucas Baird

November 2021

A Rex Airline aircraft.

This airline wants to be the Tesla of Australian skies

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp says electric-powered regional aircraft are a realistic option.

  • Lucas Baird

June 2021

Rex’s John Sharp: always worth listening to.

Rex’s John Sharp dishes out the scoops

Of course, those only paying attention to ASX announcements might have wondered what was causing all the fuss.

  • Myriam Robin

May 2021

Rex executive chairman Lim Kim Hai and deputy chairman John Sharp, with another model airplane.

Rex fleet lands in Parliament

The airline certainly made an impression by gifting every parliamentarian their own Boeing 737. 

  • Myriam Robin
Some of the cash from Rex’s forward bookings is encumbered.

Rex says it will break even this financial year

The regional airline says its cash holdings have risen tenfold since the pandemic lows of last March but deputy chairman John Sharp conceded some of that cash is encumbered.

  • Lucas Baird

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/john-randall-sharp-3rb