Rex’s Mildura to Adelaide route ‘suspended’

A popular airline has scrapped its flight between Mildura and a capital city. Find out where it’ll be harder to fly to.

Rex is suspending its Mildura to Adelaide service. Picture: Newswire

Major regional airline Rex is suspending its Mildura to Adelaide route from May 1, with no comment on whether it could return.

Nine of Rex’s other routes will see a reduction of flights or a change in timings, and the Mildura to Adelaide route will be suspended entirely.

The routes affected by the adjustments are Cairns-Bamaga, Sydney-Broken Hill, Broken Hill-Adelaide, Sydney-Wagga Wagga, Melbourne-Wagga Wagga, Mount Gambier-Melbourne, Whyalla-Adelaide, Port Lincoln-Adelaide, Ceduna-Adelaide.

The airline cited difficulties with getting staff as well as engine parts for its Saab 340 turboprop aircraft which fly the shorter regional routes.

Rex network strategy general manager Warrick Lodge said there were a “chronic” shortage of airline staff.

“These adjustments are necessitated by the chronic shortage of airline professionals, particularly pilots and engineers,” he said.

“As well as the severe disruption in the supply chain of aircraft and engine parts.”

Mildura Regional Development chief executive Brett Millington said the impact on tourism would be small but he hoped it would only be temporary.

“There will be a small impact on tourism, I believe most visitors from South Australia come by car,” he said.

“We would definitely hope that this a temporary halt on the on the leg for many border businesses.”