Rex Airline: Albury, Coffs Harbour, Griffith, Narrandera, Orange, Parkes and Port Macquarie flights to be reduced
Regional communities are fuming, with a series of flights to Sydney set to be scrapped from a regional airline. Here’s what it means for you.
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A decision to cut flights from eight regional towns across NSW to Sydney has been described as a “tragedy” - which will cause “massive disruption” for regional and remote communities.
REX will reduce flights from seven regional routes, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Griffith, Narrandera, Orange, Parkes and Port Macquarie all flying to Sydney on the Saab 340 turboprop aircraft from October 30, 2023.
Rex will also temporarily suspend flights from Sydney to Armidale until March 30, 2024.
The airline has blamed Qantas for their “relentless pillaging” of the regional services pilot group and staff shortages.
Parkes Shire Council mayor Neill Westcott the reductions will cause a “great impact” in the community as it is the only airline which services the local government area.
“We’re not in a position of having to fall back on another carrier - the relationship between Rex Airlines and Parkes Shire Council has been a very good one over a long time - we’ve been very loyal,” Mr Westcott said.
“This is a tragedy for the community, REX is our only airline operating out of Parkes.”
He said that while he is understanding of staffing issues the company is facing, the reductions will impact medical services, tourism, daily and working life.
“Our airport caters for Forbes and Lachlan - these impacts will spread far beyond our shire boundaries.”
Rex general manager of network strategy, Warrick Lodge, described the reductions as “temporary”, with an intention to return to the standard flight schedules from March 31, 2024.
“Unlike other carriers, we prefer to reduce the scheduled services so that our passengers can be assured of fewer disruptions and more reliable services,” he said.
Former Orange resident Zoe Macfarlan said the reduced flight schedules is going to limit passengers choice in what airlines they fly with.
“Like many who travel for work in the region, I flew with Rex quite regularly in the past and had choice with regards to time and cost, so this change will reduce flexibility and likely increase costs for those who continue to need the service,” Ms Macfarlan said.
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