Rex Airlines, Maranoa Regional Council negotiate ‘exorbitant’ head tax hike

The airline has defended its widely-criticised Roma flight schedule release, claiming any delay was caused by negotiations with Maranoa Regional Council over an ‘exorbitant’ price rise.

Rex Airlines has defended the company’s release of its new flight schedule for Roma Airport less than a month before its takeover, claiming any delay was caused by negotiations over an ‘exorbitant’ tax hike by Maranoa Regional Council.

The Australian-run airline was awarded the Brisbane-Roma route last month but did not release their flight schedule for Roma until Thursday, despite being scheduled to commence flights from January 1.

The delay was criticised by Roma residents earlier this week, with fears it would leave those urgently needing to travel for medical appointments or business trips in the lurch.

A statement from Rex Airlines said the company contacted the council the day after receiving the contract to confirm security screening processes and a head tax rate, a fee charged per passenger by local government.

“The council responded on December 3 to confirm that there would be no security screening, as regulations do not require Rex’s aircraft to be security screened,” the statement read.

“The council also confirmed the head tax would be $32.90 (including GST).

“This rate represents a 25 per cent increase on the head tax rate at the time Rex tendered the contract and which was still being published up to November 1.

“Rex wrote again to the council on (Monday) to request a review of (its) decision to exorbitantly increase the head tax.”

The airline claimed the Maranoa council responded on Thursday to say it was “entrenched in its position” to raise the head tax, saying it left Rex with no choice but to accept the rate as one of the highest in its network of 62 destinations.

“Rex makes no excuse for trying to get a better outcome for the community, which is the cause of the additional six-day delay in publishing fares,” the statement read.

“Rex is offering the Roma community 28 weekly returns to Brisbane, and we think the three-week lead time is sufficient for making plans in the new year.”

The first Rex Airlines aircraft landing at Gold Coast Airport. Rex has started new twice daily services between the Gold Coast and Melbourne. Passengers exiting the aircraft after arriving on the Gold Coast from Melbourne. Picture: Jerad Williams

Maranoa Regional Council issued a response on Friday, claiming the organisation had actually lowered the head tax by removing the security screening process.

“As Rex will be operating smaller aircrafts for this route, security screening will no longer be required in the terminal,” it read.

“The council resolved at a special meeting held on December 1 that 100 per cent of those cost savings will be passed directly onto Rex, reducing their overall fees by 25 per cent for adults and 50 per cent for children.”

The statement indicated the head tax fees for an adult traveller had dropped from $43.90 to $32.90, and from $21.95 to $10.95 for children.

Maranoa Mayor Tyson Golder was the only representative to oppose the price changes at the meeting, where Rex Airlines’ request for another reduction was acknowledged but not actioned further.

“I believe the only way we’re going to get affordable flights and the frequency that we need is to work here on agreements where both parties can agree on something,” he said.