REX has announced it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a lessor for the lease of one Boeing 737-800NG. The aircraft is expected to be available for service after its major check.
In other news, Rex has announced the airline will withdraw from the Albury-Melbourne route later this month.
“This route is the casualty of Qantas’ illegal predatory behavior to drive out competition in a war of attrition, knowing that its competitors do not have the balance sheet to lose money indefinitely,” Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said.
“Pre-COVID, 22,000 passengers a year flew between Albury and Melbourne, hardly enough passengers for one carrier let alone two. Qantas then entered the route – one of nine Rex regional routes targeted by Qantas during the COVID pandemic – dumping an additional 31,000 seats annually into the market.”
“It is with a heavy heart that we have to exit this route, after servicing it faithfully for the last 39 years. Rex has no choice but to look after itself. Sadly for the community, we will soon see Qantas providing only a token service once it sees that it has achieved its objectives.”
The last REX flight between Albury and Melbourne will operate on May 29, 2022.
REX aircraft photo gallery:
