Rex in voluntary administration, ending all 737 services

[RSVKanga]

They did blame VA indirectly for their exit from SYD-CBR through an "additional operator", even though VA employed Link Airways to operate the SYD-CBR services for them through wet-lease.

https://www.rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=2F52426A6C774D6549697136636D7976366E744347726D534C496C50677854545034562B6A585371336A714143314E3438492B4B7353663076506245317A4F35

Yep, and I think that press release further proves my theory. Rex have not hesitated to pull out the megaphone and directly blame Qantas by name in press releases, yet the extremely subtle term "additional operator" when referencing VA in this press release is more leaning towards suspicion of potential collaboration rather than formal corporate language IMO.

 

[moa999]

unprecedentedly high level of sophistication

Really?. The VA booking form asks you to supply a proof or Rex booking (invoice or booking confirmation).

Sophistication would have had them emailing you on Wed morning. Saying sorry Rex has gone into administration and cancelled your flights. VA is prepared to offer you this.. click here to accept.

Instead you are waiting up to 72hrs for manual review.

 

[Must...Fly!]

• Talks that VA were allegedly briefed by ZL about potential collapse in the weeks before the public/media knew

All anyone had to do was load up a seat map.

Or send Jayne a link to a certain thread on AFF.

 

[henrus]

The more I think of it, this whole Rex jet experiment might have been secretly in collaboration in VA in a failed attempt to collectively challenge Qantas through the idea of "enemy of an enemy is a friend".

Haha you are definitely thinking into it too much.

End of the day it was the idea of an egotistical board who looked for investors based on way too many crystal ball readings they’d found to read to that investor. You just have to look at the leaked "project mother" slides from 2020 to realise how crazy this all was.

There was an unprecedentedly high level of sophistication when it came to transferring affected Rex passengers onto VA with Rex seamlessly handing VA the details of all affected passengers

VA had some (few days) notice but not a lot (after all the Australian broke the storey essentially 4 days early), end of the day ZL was willing to share lists of passengers/flights involved and that was something EY finalised when they stepped in as administrators.

VA were very quick to announce they're acquiring the ZL 737s - again there are so many 737s in the world they could have chosen, but they chose ZL's

VA is in a bit crew and plane shortage. ZL and VA share same lessors so these sorts of things aren't a difficult conversation.

 

[jb747]

Rex had some excellent cabin crew, and undoubtedly superb pilots.

From what I gather, the 737 pilot cohort was mostly from VB.

 

[Saab34]

Apparently many from VA went to Rex to secure a Command, who otherwise would only have been offered a FO position at Virgin. A old Tiger Captain was telling me that, he was too far down the list at Virgin after they merged lists last decade, he would have only been offered a FO slot at Virgin, Rex offered him a DEC however. He was going to go back later to Virgin in the 2020s when a Command job was available, for nearly available.

Likely back to a FO for many. I think the Virgin right of return was through to 2026/2027 I think, can someone confirm?

 

[Rabs97]

Likely back to a FO for many. I think the Virgin right of return was through to 2026/2027 I think, can someone confirm?

Yes, but I believe only a small % of Rex jet pilots are on the VA seniority list. Having said that all airlines in Australia (and overseas) are recruiting so their jet experience will put them in good stead to find employment, and with Rex’s huge shortages and turnover on the Saab fleet they would probably be offered employment there (doubt many would take that option however).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Media reports today that Federal legislation - which controls slots - is biased against new entrants to the market. This limited rex to flying odd hours, often outside of peak. At a time when VA was cancelling three or four flights a day on the MEL-SYD route, that could have been crucial slots which could have gone to rex.

This seems to be at odds with comments above that the aussie market is completely ‘free’.

 

[Saab34]

I don’t think an extra 6pm slot would have made much difference.

If you look at the data, the worst performing loads for Rex was actually in peak. The 6am/7am departures also went out very empty. The lunchtime and arvo flights seemed to be heavier, again that is what the data on Expert Flyer had.

Would indicate that peak slots wouldn’t really change much, the peak customer isn’t the Rex customer.

 

[jrfsp]

I don’t think an extra 6pm slot would have made much difference.

If you look at the data, the worst performing loads for Rex was actually in peak. The 6am/7am departures also went out very empty. The lunchtime and arvo flights seemed to be heavier, again that is what the data on Expert Flyer had.

Would indicate that peak slots wouldn’t really change much, the peak customer isn’t the Rex customer.

Exactly, the peak times are mostly corporate / business traffic which ZL failed to capture, most pax are booked through corporate travel etc which rex did not feature on. Its best performing routes were leisure dominated such as OOL.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Exactly, the peak times are mostly corporate / business traffic which ZL failed to capture, most pax are booked through corporate travel etc which rex did not feature on. Its best performing routes were leisure dominated such as OOL.

Failed to capture is right. But maybe if they’d had the leak slots, they could have marketed better? Not much use having a close-to-100% OTP if your flight is at 8pm and the cancelled VA flight is at 5 or 6.

I was crying out for a 7pm departure from MEL to SYD! Instead I had to wait until 8, giving a very late arrival. The BA 7pm was often subject to delays or cancellations. A slot which could have gone to rex potentially.

 

[OATEK]

Why must every thread end up discussing QR?

Well given that The Australian was running with the headline that QR might be the saviour of ZL (perhaps through VA) then why would you want to ignore it? While speculative on the journo's part, seems on-topic.

 

[jb747]

Apparently many from VA went to Rex to secure a Command, who otherwise would only have been offered a FO position at Virgin. A old Tiger Captain was telling me that, he was too far down the list at Virgin after they merged lists last decade, he would have only been offered a FO slot at Virgin, Rex offered him a DEC however. He was going to go back later to Virgin in the 2020s when a Command job was available, for nearly available.

I wouldn't have thought a seniority number would be kept for someone who chose to leave, unless they offered leave without pay.

This is a bit like queues at Coles. You join a queue, but it's slow, and they open an aisle next to you. You manage to jump from position 20 to number 3, and then they close it again. You don't get to rejoin the queue you were in at your newly advantageous position.

 

[justinbrett]

Well given that The Australian was running with the headline that QR might be the saviour of ZL (perhaps through VA) then why would you want to ignore it? While speculative on the journo's part, seems on-topic.

It was an opinion piece designed to get clicks. I don’t think anybody with any industry knowledge gave it any credit.

It just seems to be the same members brining it up in every thread and it results in moderators locking them. It’s not on topic.

 

[OATEK]

It was an opinion piece designed to get clicks. I don’t think anybody with any industry knowledge gave it any credit.

It just seems to be the same members brining it up in every thread and it results in moderators locking them. It’s not on topic.

Doesn't make it off topic though, just because of personal views of contributors.

 

[N860CR]

Failed to capture is right. But maybe if they’d had the leak slots, they could have marketed better? Not much use having a close-to-100% OTP if your flight is at 8pm and the cancelled VA flight is at 5 or 6.

I was crying out for a 7pm departure from MEL to SYD! Instead I had to wait until 8, giving a very late arrival. The BA 7pm was often subject to delays or cancellations. A slot which could have gone to rex potentially.

I believe Rex had a good supply of slots from their regional operation that they were using for the 737s. They could have operated any time they wanted to.

I wouldn't have thought a seniority number would be kept for someone who chose to leave, unless they offered leave without pay.

This is a bit like queues at Coles. You join a queue, but it's slow, and they open an aisle next to you. You manage to jump from position 20 to number 3, and then they close it again. You don't get to rejoin the queue you were in at your newly advantageous position.

I believe this would be referring to Tiger or Long Haul crew who were made redundant but have held seniority pending re-employment.

 

[justinbrett]

Doesn't make it off topic though, just because of personal views of contributors.

It does when it was never a serious proposition. It was a ludicrous theory had so many “what ifs” it belongs in the fantasy section. It wasn’t based on any event or statement.

 

[Quickstatus]

ZL need urgent recapitalisation, it stands to reason that the capital providers might indeed be another airline - whether VA2 or QR as discussed by the Australian. And no it should not be the "spirit of australia capital cities" mob.

I'm hoping enough recapitalisation for the airline to consider wholesale Saab replacement. They have to, otherwise it will eventually shrivel away. There is much regional and rural support for ZL Saab service despite what some here are saying about the Saab service, but this is the time to do it.

 

[fairhsa]

Just rebooked onto QF. Very easy (well, I have a booking reference, waiting for the actual ticket!).

 

[Jussie]

Just rebooked onto QF. Very easy (well, I have a booking reference, waiting for the actual ticket!).

Quick update. I had a booking reference yesterday, woke up this morning to find both flights cancelled. On hold with Qantas now.