Rex Airlines flights still flying in regional Queensland: Townsville Airport
The potential collapse of Rex Airlines brings “an alarming challenge” to regional Queensland, Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle says as she pushes for the “critical lifeline” to be saved.
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The potential collapse of Rex Airlines brings “an alarming challenge” to regional Queensland, Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle says as she pushes for the “critical lifeline” to be saved.
It comes as Townsville Airport says all Rex Airlines flights were continuing to operate from regional airports on Wednesday.
The airline, the third largest in Australia, went into voluntary administration late on Tuesday, grounding it fleet of larger Boeing 737 aircraft.
A Townsville Airport spokeswoman confirmed that flights from the North Queensland capital were continuing.
Rex Airlines destinations from Townsville include Cairns, Doomadgee, Hughenden and Julia Creek.
The airline confirmed on Wednesday all domestic flights between major cities had been scrapped and that “all regional planes are still flying as scheduled”.
It said that all regional flights using Saab 340 planes “are unaffected by the administration and will continue to operate as normal”.
“Customers can continue to make bookings at rex.com.au or via their travel agent.”
You can check the status of Rex Airlines HERE.
Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle said the timing of the potential closure of the regional airline came at a “crucial juncture” for northwest Queensland.
“As we prepare to welcome a significant influx of workers for the CopperString transmission line project, our community faces an alarming challenge – the potential closure of a vital regional airline service.”
She said the project was poised to transform the region, with significant investment in airport expansions and accommodation for the influx of workers.
“Now we are confronted with the prospect of losing our only air service – a critical lifeline for our growing community,” she said.
“Why isn’t the right hand talking to the left hand?”
Ms Peddle said it was crucial for the government to support regional Queensland, saying the loss of Rex Airlines across regional communities “would be astronomical”.
“The adage ‘build it and they will come’ has rung true – we’re building the infrastructure and the workers are arriving (but) now face the stark reality of potentially having no planes to bring them here.”
The mayor confirmed that Rex Airlines would continue its regional service but asked, “for how long?”.
She said regional Queensland should not be regressing.
“We have immense potential and opportunity, yet we’re failing to capitalise on it,” she said.
“It’s disheartening to see the lack of consistency in addressing challenges we face with our services and infrastructure.”
Ms Peddle urged the government to provide support for a regional airline service.
“Our community’s growth and self-sufficiency depend on it,” she said.
“It’s time for decisive action to ensure our region’s progress and prosperity.”
The mayor’s comments follow calls from Bob Katter, the member for Kennedy, who said the Federal Government needed to save air services “critical to regional Australians”.
He called for a government buy-in to secure the future of Rex Airlines.
“The potential loss of Rex services is a serious threat to the wellbeing and connectivity of our regional areas,” he said.
“It’s imperative that the Government steps in to ensure our regional communities remain connected and supported.”
Mr Katter said Australia should have an air service “owned by the Government for the people”.
“We are the most sparsely populated country on Earth and the wealth of our nation comes from these sparsely populated areas,” he said.
“If you continue to strangle regional places such as Hughenden, then you strangle the nation.”
He also fired a shot at Qantas, saying the national carrier was “completely void of Australian values”.
“When Qantas was government-owned, it was a service to the Australian people,” he said.
“Now it has become a money-making machine for the rich corporates.”
More to come.
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