Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

[madrooster]

I could be wrong, but I believe most Australian airlines pay no commission on domestic tickets anyway.

(A travel agent can probably confirm or deny - @madrooster perhaps?)

QF and VA don't pay any base commission but they do pay override commission based on sales volume. ZL don't pay anything at all whatsoever, nor do JQ.

 

[dajop]

Rex have announced that has been granted high capacity AOC by CASA today ...

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02322936-2A1270525?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

Also have announced a trading halt, pending an announcement. Trade in their shares listed on ASX are halted until the earlier of the announcement or opening of trade Friday. Maybe a chance to delist perhaps?

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02323063-2A1270582?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

 

[Mattg]

Also have announced a trading halt, pending an announcement. Trade in their shares listed on ASX are halted until the earlier of the announcement or opening of trade Friday. Maybe a chance to delist perhaps?

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02323063-2A1270582?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

I wonder if this is related?

ASIC reprimands Rex over failure to disclose capital city flight plans

The corporate regulator has reprimanded the airline Regional Express for failing to tell investors about plans to launch flights between Sydney and Melbourne before they were splashed across a national newspaper.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Mattg]

Virgin seems to be matching the Rex SYD-MEL sale fares. I don't think it's a coincidence VA has $78 fares for dates after 1 March.

 

[Melburnian1]

I think part of the trouble is people simply aren't committing to travel until the last minute, given the uncertainty over the last 10 months, with border closures, restrictions etc. and particularly so for a business route like SYD/MEL

I just picked one random flight at the exact same time on same day (7am) - ZL had no seats allocated, QF had no seats allocated, VA had 1 J seat allocated, and Row 6 unavailable for selection and JQ had three rows where the whole row was unavailable to choose - two of these last two rows and the other row 9 - didn't look like they were even available to allocated. Selling prices - ZL $79, QF $109, VA $165, JQ $45

Still a long way to go yet.

Today's Queensland/NSW border decision requiring (soon) some NSW residents to quarantine in an hotel at own expense for 14 days upon arrival proves your point.

How can we have the confidence to travel interstate if these sorts of decisions are made by State Premiers such as the woman in Qld?

 

[PineappleSkip]

Why single out Queensland? Every state and the NT has announced or foreshadowed restrictions on people who have been in Northern Beaches, and in the case of Victoria and Tasmania (the latter with exemptions) it’s an outright ban on travellers from there.

But totally agree with your point about lack of confidence to travel. I’d add ‘how can Rex have confidence to start flights’ if both Qld and Vic have announced restrictions that cruel their two main routes.

cheers skip

 

[yohy?!]

Not sure I'd be in a rush to jump on any REX-operated jet given their past track record (despite their teflon management), they might have done better establishing a new brand

 

[Buzzard]

Today's Queensland/NSW border decision requiring (soon) some NSW residents to quarantine in an hotel at own expense for 14 days upon arrival proves your point.

How can we have the confidence to travel interstate if these sorts of decisions are made by State Premiers such as the woman in Qld?

I think your post didn't have to include "such as the woman in Qld". Most of Australia now has restrictions for travellers from NSW or parts of.

 

[Chicken]

I think we are going off topic.

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Oz' tonight (Monday Jan 11) has a long report about some survey taken that suggests 52 per cent of participants now regard the various state border curbs as more of a disincentive to travel interstate than the novel coronavirus.

Regional Express is quoted saying it's constantly changing timetables to 'minimise losses'.

It says it may postpone the launch of Sydney - Melbourne flights from the proposed March 1 2021 if borders are likely to remain shut.

Uncertainty!

 

[jb747]

Borders that suddenly shut, and lock out residents, are more than a slight disincentive. I fully expect to abandon this year’s planned caravan trip because of it, even though it would all be in areas that are regional. I can think of little worse than being stuck just over the NSW border, 5km from home, and not allowed to proceed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Borders that suddenly shut, and lock out residents, are more than a slight disincentive. I fully expect to abandon this year’s planned caravan trip because of it, even though it would all be in areas that are regional. I can think of little worse than being stuck just over the NSW border, 5km from home, and not allowed to proceed.

It's disastrous for any business in travel or that provides accommodation, plus businessmen and women trying to run their entity's affairs.

These closures cost QFd, VAd and Regional Express millions per month in total. The latter has been expert at receiving (arguably too much) in Federal Government assistance but it will incur many costs for its proposed SYD - MEL commencement, money that may go to waste. Rex isn't a large company so the drain may be substantial.

While perhaps a minor point to policymakers, many look forward to leisure trips, so border closures adversely affect mental health.

Let's hope your trip can proceed but a goodly number of AFFers may understand your sentiments as travel interstate is off my and I'd suggest others' agenda.

 

[AIRwin]

Having a look at Rex's proposed SYD-MEL schedule. They will start in March with 3 Boeing 737-800s and plan to operate 9 return flights per day.

Only 5 flights on 1 March now with retimed STD, most of which are still on sale for $79/$299:

MEL-SYD
ZL018 07:00
ZL042 10:00
ZL132 15:00
ZL152 17:00
ZL182 20:00

SYD-MEL
ZL011 07:10
ZL033 10:30
ZL105 12:30
ZL145 17:30
ZL161 19:30

 

[Mattg]

Only 5 flights on 1 March now with retimed STD, most of which are still on sale for $79/$299:

MEL-SYD
ZL018 07:00
ZL042 10:00
ZL132 15:00
ZL152 17:00
ZL182 20:00

SYD-MEL
ZL011 07:10
ZL033 10:30
ZL105 12:30
ZL145 17:30
ZL161 19:30

Based on that schedule, it looks to me like they (a) expect to only have two planes available to enter service on 1 March, (b) realised that the previous schedule would likely result in major delays given the number of aircraft available, (c) demand/forward bookings are much lower than expected, or (d) all of the above.

 

[Melburnian1]

Based on that schedule, it looks to me like they (a) expect to only have two planes available to enter service on 1 March, (b) realised that the previous schedule would likely result in major delays given the number of aircraft available, (c) demand/forward bookings are much lower than expected, or (d) all of the above.

Not disagreeing, but on shorter domestic routes such as MEL - SYD, wouldn't a majority of airline passengers book relatively close to the forward journey's travel date?

I'm guessing a typical business traveller might book between two weeks and a day prior to travel (with a few on day of travel). Leisure patrons might book six or seven weeks to say two weeks prior, with not huge numbers closer due to fares often rising. Those travelling to short notice events, such as a funeral, would be exceptions.

So for flights that don't start until 1 March 2021, it's 'normal' to have few yet booked. But I bet you're correct about fewer than expected even checking the website, let alone booking. Residents of Australia's largest city mostly can't travel SYD to MEL as of today, so why would they risk money booking future travel?

 

[dajop]

Not disagreeing, but on shorter domestic routes such as MEL - SYD, wouldn't a majority of airline passengers book relatively close to the forward journey's travel date?

I'm guessing a typical business traveller might book between two weeks and a day prior to travel (with a few on day of travel). Leisure patrons might book six or seven weeks to say two weeks prior, with not huge numbers closer due to fares often rising. Those travelling to short notice events, such as a funeral, would be exceptions.

In normal times, yes business travel often only days or a few weeks in advance. But leisure travel can be months in advance, even short haul.

In 2021, I am sure the vast majority of bookings, leisure or business, would be very last minute.

 

[AIRwin]

So there may not be a huge cost there, especially if they have some reasonable meal boxes (ironically probably more expensive).

Passengers in our business class cabin are served a specially crafted meal box, with an accompanying selection of soft drink, juice, red wine, white wine and beer included:

Food and Beverages

 

[Mattg]

Passengers in our business class cabin are served a specially crafted meal box, with an accompanying selection of soft drink, juice, red wine, white wine and beer included:

Food and Beverages

Isn't this basically what VA is currently serving in business class? If so, Rex passengers are in for a disappointment...

 

[AIRwin]

Isn't this basically what VA is currently serving in business class?

Depends on what's in the mystery box...

 

[jakeseven7]

I wonder if they source their mystery boxes from the same supplier as VA....

Look forward to the first trip report on AFF!