Rex to keep flying to regions as government provides bookings guarantee

Rex services 41 routes to regional and remote communities. Photo: Rex.

Beleaguered airline Rex will keep flying its regional routes after the Federal Government decided to guarantee regional flight bookings for customers throughout the voluntary administration process.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said travellers could continue to book regional flights on Rex during this process with certainty that they would either fly or get their money back.

Rex operates one of Australia’s largest regional air networks and provides essential connectivity to move people and critical freight on 41 routes to regional and remote communities, including 21 routes that are only serviced by Rex.

“Rex’s continuation is in the best interests of Australia – and the government is working closely with the administrators to ensure a strong regional aviation presence now and into the future,” Ms King said.

The guarantee is for all regional flight bookings with Rex made after it entered voluntary administration at 9:31 pm on 30 July.

Ms King said this would give customers confidence to continue booking regional flights with Rex while also helping to maintain regional aviation in Australia.

She said these were flights that allowed regional Australians to stay connected to family, friends, healthcare and other services.

“My department will continue to work with the administrator on their plans for the continuation of services to regional communities,” she said.

“We also expect the administrator to honour and prioritise the entitlements of Rex employees.

“This guarantee is a message to regional Australia that we know how important reliable air services are to you and that we are not going to allow your communities to be left behind.”

Voluntary administrator of the Rex Group Sam Freeman said the Regional Flight Booking Guarantee was a positive step towards securing the future for Rex, Rex’s 1200-plus employees and all Australians who relied on these services to connect their communities.

“We have experienced firsthand the importance of Rex’s regional services to the communities the airline serves and would like to express our gratitude to the Federal Government for stepping in with this support,” he said.

“The Federal Government’s flight booking guarantee will give Australians confidence to continue booking to or from a regional destination on Rex, ensuring that in the unlikely event that their service is not delivered – they will be entitled to receive a full refund.”

Mr Freeman said the guarantee would help Rex to keep flying while the administrator undertook the recapitalisation of the airline and secured its future.

“We’re currently undertaking a process to find an investor committed to a sustainable commercial regional network,” he said.

“Rex is here for regional Australia, and we encourage all Australians to see Minister King’s announcement today as a confidence boost and continue booking during the voluntary administration.”