Rex dumps flights between Sydney and Canberra just one year after launch

A route that’s used by some of Australia’s most influential people has been dumped by one airline just a year after launching.

Regional airline Rex is set to pull its Canberra to Sydney route, just one year after launching the service in 2021.

The announcement comes just weeks after Jetstar announced it would be entering the market from two new ports – Melbourne and the Gold Coast – to the country’s capital city.

Virgin Australia also brought back services between Sydney and Canberra in January, with up to 11 flights on weekdays. Qantas also facilitates the route with its Qantas Link aircraft.

Want a streaming service dedicated to news? Flash lets you stream 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Rex has dumped its Sydney to Canberra route.

“Unfortunately with the entrance of an additional operator and the very high charges imposed by Sydney Airport from June 1 means that the route is no longer viable for Rex,” the airline’s deputy chairman John Sharp told

“The resources will be diverted to other routes which will provide a better return.”

Sydney Airport hit back at the airline, confirming they made a number of attempts to keep Rex on the Sydney to Canberra route.

“Sydney Airport made a number of attempts to support Rex’s operations on the Sydney-Canberra route, and we were making good progress on coming to an agreement,” the statement read.

“Rex’s suggestion that Sydney Airport is partially responsible for them exiting the route is disappointing and inaccurate.”

The announcement comes just weeks after budget airline Jetstar, owned by Qantas, added two new routes to its Canberra service with direct flights to and from both Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Rex cited high Sydney airport fees as part of the reason for dropping the route. Picture: Tim Hunter

The budget carrier initially entered the Canberra market in December with flights to and from Brisbane.

Speaking to news.com.au on the opening of flights to Canberra, Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said the success of the Brisbane route to the capital city meant adding flights from other cities was an easy decision.

“Canberra has always been the one major market we haven’t operated to,” he said.

“Now we started Canberra to Brisbane and that has been incredibly successful. So now we are looking to add additional destinations to Canberra, and we expect them to be extremely successful.

“We continue to look for new destinations and new opportunities domestically.”

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans expects the flights to and from Canberra to be ‘extremely successful’. Picture: Image/James Gourley

Since Rex launched the Sydney to Melbourne route, the airline offered seven return flights between the two cities each day with one-way fares starting from $99. The airline also had its own lounge at Canberra Airport.

The final service between the two cities, which is popular among business travellers and government officials, will take off from Sydney on May 29. The date will also mark the conclusion of another route for the airline – direct services between Albury and Melbourne.