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Rex at the ready: Government lifeline locks in regional flights

The Federal Government has thrown airline Regional Express a funding lifeline to continue servicing airports in regional Australia during the ongoing pandemic.

Apr 21, 2020, updated Apr 21, 2020
Australia's largest regional airline, Regional Express, has been thrown a lifeline. Photo: ABC

Australia's largest regional airline, Regional Express, has been thrown a lifeline. Photo: ABC

The Federal Government has thrown airline Regional Express (Rex) a funding lifeline, to continue servicing airports in regional Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commonwealth Grant Agreement was signed under the COVID-19 Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program and will see the Government pay for Rex to continue to operate 1-2 return services a week to most destinations on the Rex network.

The Queensland, Western Australian, and South Australian State Governments have also committed to fund further flights on top of what the Federal Government package is providing, with details set to be confirmed at a later date.

In a statement, Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said the funding has saved the airline from cutting services to many smaller regional communities.

“All regional and remote communities owe the Deputy Prime Minister and the Morrison Government a great debt of gratitude for providing funding to ensure they continue to receive minimal essential air links to the capital cities for medical, professional and educational needs,” he said.

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“Without this intervention, many smaller regional communities would risk not having any air services at all for at least six months.”

Rex has also lodged a revised request for funding to the Government which it says, if successful, would see a minimum of two return services per week to some airports having up to three return services per week.

 

– ABC / Luke Radford

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