ZL
RXA
REX
Lim Kim Hai, Executive Chairman/ Majority Shareholder [2]
Chris Hine, Chief Pilot| REX (Regional Express) | ||
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| IATA ZL |
ICAO RXA |
Callsign REX |
| Founded | 2002 | |
| Fleet size | 43 | |
| Destinations | 29 (three suspended) | |
| Parent company | Regional Express Holdings Limited | |
| Headquarters | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Key people | Jim Davis, Managing Director[1]
Lim Kim Hai, Executive Chairman/ Majority Shareholder [2] Chris Hine, Chief Pilot |
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| Website: www.rex.com.au | ||
Regional Express Pty Ltd (also known as Rex), is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services.[3] It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves the Eastern states and South Australia. Its entire fleet consists of Swedish built Saab 340 turboprop aircraft seating 33, 34 or 36 passengers.
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The airline was established in 2002 when the Australiawide Airlines consortium (set up by former Ansett employees) acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, merged the two companies and started operations in August 2002 as Rex.[3] In 2005, Australiawide Airlines was renamed Regional Express Holdings and partially floated on the Australian Securities Exchange.[4] On 30 November, 2005, Rex announced the acquisition of the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline.[5]
In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough.[6] This exacerbated an existing problem within the company of not having enough pilots to crew its flights (due to the expansion of larger airlines, especially Jetstar Airways and Virgin Blue Airlines),[7][8] and Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane[9] (and from Sydney to Cooma, New South Wales during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields)[10] in November 2007. To provide a medium-term solution to the pilot shortage, Rex announced that it was establishing a cadet-pilot flight-training programme.[11] At the same time, Rex announced the impending retirement of Managing director Geoff Breust.[12]
from Adelaide, South Australia
from Brisbane, Queensland
from Sydney, New South Wales
Rex operates a large fleet of twin turboprop engined Saab 340 passenger aircraft of all versions. Several 340Bs, a 340A and all Kendell CRJ-200s and Hazelton Metros were taken out of service following the establishment of Regional Express. Since then the former Kendell Metro fleet has also been gradually phased out of service, with the remaining four aircraft being transferred to Pel-Air in late 2006 and the first half of 2007.[15]
Since the establishment of the airline, Regional Express has added over twenty SAABs to those inherited from Kendell and Hazelton to expand its fleet. Of these, two are former Hazelton aircraft that served with other operators before being bought by Rex. One aircraft was operated by Kendell Airlines and Rex, then flew in Europe for several years before being re-leased by Rex.
Regional Express rotates all of its aircraft between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The delivery of 25 ex-American Eagle Saab 340B Plus aircraft (to be leased) over 3 years starting in mid-2007 will enable the expansion of services and the Saab 340A's will be gradually phased out and converted into freighters, and increase the fleet to about 50 units. The 340B Plus has a quieter and more comfortable interior, with the usual leather seating that is typical to the Saab 340. As of November 2008 15 of the 25 aircraft have been delivered.[16]
When the Regional Express livery was first introduced, the logos of the former operators Kendell and Hazelton were located underneath the leading passenger window to the rear of the main entrance door (one aircraft, VH-EKH, still displays these logos with the motto "Our heart is in the country").
In addition to VH-EKH mentioned above, several aircraft in the Rex fleet display special logos or other visual features:
As of September 2008, 43 aircraft are in the expanding fleet.[17] In July 2008 the company announced that all of its 340As would be converted to freighters.[16] A Saab 340B was withdrawn from service to be used as a source of spare parts and the first of the 340A freighter conversions was sold in July 2008.[16]
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saab 340A | 7 | 4 in service, 2 freighters (Pel-Air), 1 withdrawn from use.[16] |
| Saab 340B | 22 | One withdrawn from use for parts. |
| Saab 340B+ | 16 | 10 to be delivered |
Rex has ordered 25 ex American Eagle SAAB 340B Plus aircraft, which have extended wingtips (offered as an option on Saab 340B Plus aircraft) to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency, plus improved interior soundproofing. The first was originally scheduled to arrive in late 2006, however Rex took delivery of the first on April 30, 2007; it entered service on June 6th. By March 2008, nine had been delivered, bringing the REX fleet to 40. The 340B Plus aircraft are fitted with optional Hamilton Standard propellers instead of the Dowty Rotol propellers fitted to the existing fleet.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Regional Express |
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