Regional Express Airlines
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| REX (Regional Express) | ||
|---|---|---|
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| IATA ZL |
ICAO RXA |
Callsign REX |
| Founded | 2002 | |
| Fleet size | 38 | |
| Destinations | 29 (three suspended) | |
| Parent company | Regional Express Holdings Limited | |
| Headquarters | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia | |
| Key people | Jim Davis, Managing Director [1] 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[2]. 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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[edit] History
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[2]. In 2005, Australiawide Airlines was renamed Regional Express Holdings and partially floated on the Australian Securities Exchange[3]. On 30 November, 2005, Rex announced the acquisition of the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline[4].
In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough[5]. 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)[6][7], and Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane[8] (and from Sydney to Cooma, New South Wales during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields)[9] 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[10]. At the same time, Rex announced the impending retirement of Managing director Geoff Breust[11].
[edit] Services
from Adelaide, South Australia
- Broken Hill, New South Wales
- Ceduna, South Australia
- Coober Pedy, South Australia
- Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, South Australia
- Mount Gambier, South Australia
- Port Lincoln, South Australia
- Whyalla, South Australia
from Brisbane, Queensland
- Maryborough, Queensland (resumes September 2008[12])
- Lismore, New South Wales (resumes September 2008[12])
- Albury, New South Wales
- Burnie (Wynyard), Tasmania
- King Island, Tasmania
- Griffith, New South Wales (suspended indefinitely)
- Merimbula, New South Wales
- Mildura, Victoria
- Mount Gambier, South Australia
- Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
from Sydney, New South Wales
- Albury, New South Wales
- Ballina, New South Wales
- Broken Hill, New South Wales
- Cooma, New South Wales (suspended indefinitely[13])
- Dubbo, New South Wales
- Grafton, New South Wales
- Griffith, New South Wales
- Lismore, New South Wales
- Merimbula, New South Wales
- Mildura, Victoria
- Moruya, New South Wales
- Narrandera, New South Wales
- Orange, New South Wales
- Parkes, New South Wales
- Taree, New South Wales
- Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
[edit] Fleet
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 4 aircraft being transferred to Pel-Air in late 2006 and the first half of 2007[14].
Since the establishment of the airline, Regional Express has added over twenty SAABs to those inherited from Kendell and Hazelton to expand its fleet. Most of them have the registrations notified by VH-RX* or VH-*RX, short for REX. Of these, two (VH-ZLY and 'ZRX) are former Hazelton aircraft that served with other operators before being bought by Rex. One aircraft, VH-ZLR, was operated by Kendell Airlines and Rex (as VH-KDR), then flew in Europe for several years before being re-leased by Rex with new paint and leather interior.
Regional Express rotates its Saab 340As and 340Bs 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 retirement of some of the older leased aircraft, and increase the fleet to about 50 units. The 340B Plus has a quieter and improved interior, with the usual leather seating that is typical to the SAAB 340. Four Saab 340A's are to be withdrawn from service in 2008 with one convered to a freighter in May 2008.
[edit] Special logos
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:
- VH-EKD has a mural on the LH forward fuselage (Right) promoting the outback City of Broken Hill. This mural was executed by a group known as the Arid Zone Artists in 1998.
- VH-EKT used to display the Seal of the City of Burnie on the entry door, the aircraft will be converted to a freighter in June 2008 and then sold.
- VH-TRX has a caricature of Kay Hull MHR (Right), whose efforts were instrumental in helping Rex to become established, on the LH forward fuselage. The City of Wagga Wagga is within her electorate of Riverina.
- VH-ZLR does not display the Rex reservations telephone number.
- Several aircraft also have decals displaying the SAAB corporate logo on the entry door or the "Our heart is in the country" motto; some have both.
- VH-ZRX has "SAAB 340" written on the door instead of a Saab corporate logo, a relic of its service with Air Nelson. This aircraft will be eventually converted into a freighter for Pel-Air.
- VH-KEQ was convered to a freighter in May 2008, repainted and returned to Sweeden.
[edit] Fleetlist
As of March 2008, eight 340A, 21 340B and ten 340B Plus aircraft.[15] are in the expanding fleet. In July 2007 the company announced that it had purchased five previously-leased 340B aircraft. Some of the older ex Kendell 340As are also gradually undergoing refurbishment to keep the fleet up to date, with new paint and interior upgrades such as leather seats, etc but 4 other 340A's were shown the exit door. [16]. A Saab 340B VH-OLN was withdrawn from service on February 8 2008 for spare parts, etc and at the end of May 2008, Saab 340A VH-KEQ was converted into a freighter and sold with VH-EKT to follow in June 2008.
| Aircraft | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saab 340A | 6 | Used within various routes of Regional Express Airlines. |
| Saab 340AF | 2 | To be converted to freighters, and then sold. |
| Saab 340B | 21 | Used within various routes of Regional Express Airlines. |
| Saab 340B+ | 12 | Used within various routes of Regional Express Airlines. |
[edit] Aircraft orders
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 (which will have 34 blue leather seats) will be painted in the REX livery prior to delivery and are fitted with the optional Hamilton Standard propellers (present on all current and former American Eagle Saab 340B aircraft) instead of the Dowty Rotol propellers fitted to the existing fleet.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.aviationrecord.com/search-results.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=464
- ^ a b Flight International 12-18 April 2005
- ^ Rex Invests in Pel-Air
- ^ Rex Acquires Air Link
- ^ Rex Touches Down in Queensland retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Rex Warns of Looming Catastrophic Shortage of Pilots in Australia retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Presentation at Press Conference held on 7 November 2007 retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Rex Announces Suspension of Maryborough Service due to Pilot Shortage retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Ongoing Pilot Shortage Forces Regional Express to Temporarily Suspend 'Snowy Mountains' Service retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Rex and Mangalore Airport Announce Creation of Pilot Academy retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ Rex Discloses Retirement of its Managing Director retrieved 2007-11-16.
- ^ a b Rex Announces Network Changes Due to Pilot Shortage (html). Regional Express Airlines (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
- ^ Rex makes cuts to flight schedule (html). Fairfax. The Daily Advertiser (2008-05-08). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ CASA Australian civil register database. Online search conducted 2007-08-16
- ^ CASA Australian civil register database. Online search conducted 2007-12-10
- ^ Rex buys 5 Saabs
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Rex History
- Picture of VH-ZLF in the USA prior to delivery
- Picture of VH-ZLG in the USA prior to delivery
- Picture of VH-KDB after its refurbishment
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