REX to fly to Darwin for talks

AUSTRALIA’S largest independent regional airline, Regional Express (Rex), is looking at starting passenger services in the Northern Territory based out of Darwin

REX airline aeroplanes, planes, crew, refuelling and catering seen from Gate 10 of the Adelaide Airport. Regional Express is an Australian airline based in Mascot, New South Wales. It operates scheduled regional services. (AAP/Emma Brasier)

AUSTRALIA’S largest independent regional airline, Regional Express (Rex), is looking at starting passenger services in the Northern Territory based out of Darwin.

The company’s board said it would fly to Darwin in the very near future to hold discussions with stakeholders.

Rex’s deputy chairman John Sharp said the decision came in the wake of Darwin based Air North’s parent company, the Bristow Group, going bankrupt in the US.

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He said many concerned stakeholders have approached Rex to ensure the long-term viability of regional air services in the Northern Territory.

Bristow Group announced on May 13 that it had voluntarily filed for legal protection of its US and Cayman Island entities in the US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas so it could restructure its balance sheet to alleviate debt and continue to operate.

Airnorth is not included in the bankruptcy action and continues to operate in a business-as-usual scenario.

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“The Rex board is sympathetic to the plight of the Territorians and shares the views of the concerned stakeholders, who believe that Rex would be the best chance for the NT to have a sustainable, quality regional air service with affordable fares,” Mr Sharp said.

He said the airline had a track record of profitable operations.

“Three years ago, Rex started operations for the first time in Western Australia after winning a tender for the Perth-Albany and Perth-Esperance routes.

“These routes were abandoned by the previous operator on the grounds that they were highly unprofitable.

“Today, Rex is profitably servicing these routes with more flights, lower fares, greater passenger numbers and better reliability.”

Rex’s current operational footprint covers all states in Australia with 60 destinations in its network serviced by more than 75,000 flights a year.

“Rex has decades of experience in providing safe, reliable and affordable air services to regional and remote communities and we are willing to extend our unrivalled expertise to the NT should all key stakeholders welcome our presence and are willing to work cooperatively with Rex,” Mr Sharp said.

“I will be leading a board delegation to the NT in the coming weeks for talks with key stakeholders.”