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Australia’s aviation industry has suffered another blow with regional airline Rex announces that it was administered on a voluntary basis.
There was then increasing speculation about the future of the airline Rex has suspended stock trading on the ASX on Monday.
Flights between large ones airports have been canceled, which begs the question: what should you do if you have an upcoming Rex flight booking?
Rex grounds 747 fleet
Rex Group’s domestic fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft are all grounded.
However, regional Saab 340 flights currently remain unaffected and will continue to operate.
Affected customers will be contacted directly by the airline.
Virgin Australia and Qantas are stepping in to offer new flights
Virgin Australia has stepped in to help affected customers, calling the news a “difficult moment for Australian aviation”.
Rex customers with existing tickets for canceled services will be offered a free transfer to 13 overlapping Virgin Australia routes. To take advantage of the offer, customers must contact Virgin Australia by August 14, 2024.
Qantas and Jetstar have also announced that affected customers can be reaccommodated on the same route as their original booking free of charge, provided seats are available.
Customers with an affected Rex booking can contact Jetstar at Live chat or 13 15 38 and Qantas on 13 13 13 to make a booking. They have until August 31, 2024 to take up the offer.
The overlapping routes are:
- Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Adelaide
- Melbourne to Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast and Adelaide
- Adelaide to Brisbane, Perth
- Brisbane to Cairns
What happens if you have booked a Rex Airlines flight?
Customers who need to travel on any of the affected routes in the next 48 hours have been warned “not to come to the airport”.
Melbourne Airport spokesperson Andrew Lund said: “If you have booked a Rex jet service – so that is any flight that would be operated by Rex to one of the major capitals or the Gold Coast – please do not come to the airport. The flight is canceled today.”
Rex customers traveling soon should contact the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Center on 13 67 89. Those traveling outside 48 hours should visit the Virgin Australia website to complete a rebooking form.
Is Rex Airlines still active?
In a statement about Xthe airline has confirmed that regional flights “remain unaffected and will continue to operate”.
That means Rex flights using small propeller planes to places like Merimbula, Mount Gambier or King Island will continue at this stage.
The airline also said Pel-Air Air Ambulance Services and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy remained outside the administration and under the control of their respective directors.
What impact will regional travel have?
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said Rex played a proud and important role in Australian aviation and pointed out the news was “a reminder of the challenging nature of our industry”.
Virgin will explore possible codeshare or interline agreements in the future.
“Recognizing the importance for regional Australians to have access to a comprehensive domestic and international network,” Hrdlicka said.
Meanwhile, Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long said Rex’s entry into government was a “significant blow”.
“Rex Airlines has been a lifeline to much of regional and rural Australia, ensuring these communities remain connected to the rest of the country,” he said in a statement shared with 9Travel.
“We remain hopeful that Rex will be able to navigate this challenging period and return to market.”
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