Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

[eastwest101]

Per 'that' site, REX are looking at fast tracking 2x 738s from the lessors ahead of schedule.

Rex looks to add more jets, more destinations

The country airline has its eye on two more Boeing jets plus new routes.

www.executivetraveller.com

Interesting that John Sharp is saying that it has been BNE Airport management dragging the chain about coming to arrangements for Rex jet services at BNE. Would I be guessing that its a standoff about access to any jet bridge gates at BNE's common user pier or possibly more to do with expanded check-in facilities ? There are already some common use gates in the centre part of BNE domestic that are used by both QF/VA and JQ (and TT until recently). Seems a strange one as BNE probably has the most flexible internal layout for any non-QF or non-VA airlines compared to other places in Australia.

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting that John Sharp is saying that it has been BNE Airport management dragging the chain about coming to arrangements for Rex jet services at BNE. Would I be guessing that its a standoff about access to any jet bridge gates at BNE's common user pier or possibly more to do with expanded check-in facilities ? There are already some common use gates in the centre part of BNE domestic that are used by both QF/VA and JQ (and TT until recently). Seems a strange one as BNE probably has the most flexible internal layout for any non-QF or non-VA airlines compared to other places in Australia.

eastwest101, for those including me who haven't been to BNE airport for a while - can you explain what makes the layout 'more flexible?'

Given ZL's history (including the numerous arguments about security at NSW rural city/town airports), we can bet it's a discussion about costs, with Rex not wanting to pay one cent.

 

[jakeseven7]

Interesting that John Sharp is saying that it has been BNE Airport management dragging the chain about coming to arrangements for Rex jet services at BNE. Would I be guessing that its a standoff about access to any jet bridge gates at BNE's common user pier or possibly more to do with expanded check-in facilities ? There are already some common use gates in the centre part of BNE domestic that are used by both QF/VA and JQ (and TT until recently). Seems a strange one as BNE probably has the most flexible internal layout for any non-QF or non-VA airlines compared to other places in Australia.

Exactly, and VA2 have cut loads of routes/frequency permanently so there is not like there isn't room in their old slots!

 

[dajop]

Seems a strange one as BNE probably has the most flexible internal layout for any non-QF or non-VA airlines compared to other places in Australia.

Go back 20-30 years and Compass, Impulse and Virgin Blue all had some challenges gaining terminal access at MEL and SYD (particularly Compass) due to terminal ownership by TN/QF and AN locking up space. At one point Impulse, for one, were operating out of Gate 1 of what is now called T2 at MEL - the international terminal. However with the common user space set aside when the current BNE domestic terminal was constructed was set aside - no such issues there, and very flexible.

Today, it seems less of an issue at SYD and MEL - MEL has T4 available and T2 at SYD is not tied into one particular airline, so I'm not really sure BNE is really much better than either of those ports.

 

[dk4]

Would I be guessing that its a standoff about access to any jet bridge gates at BNE's common user pier or possibly more to do with expanded check-in facilities ?

I wonder if it's lounge space too? Pity the old BNE Qantas Chairmans Lounge looks like it is retail now. Most likely though, it's more mundane - like; landing costs, airport charges, etc...

 

[dk4]

Today, it seems less of an issue at SYD and MEL - MEL has T4 available and T2 at SYD ...

Much of ADL is common user, and PER has T2...

 

[serfty]

Pity the old BNE Qantas Chairmans Lounge looks like it is retail now

FWIW in the 90s that area was the actual QP.

The C/L is now part of the Northern Qantas lounge complex.

For those inside it is overlooking the turboprop tarmac.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting that John Sharp is saying that it has been BNE Airport management dragging the chain about coming to arrangements for Rex jet services at BNE. Would I be guessing that its a standoff about access to any jet bridge gates at BNE's common user pier or possibly more to do with expanded check-in facilities ? There are already some common use gates in the centre part of BNE domestic that are used by both QF/VA and JQ (and TT until recently). Seems a strange one as BNE probably has the most flexible internal layout for any non-QF or non-VA airlines compared to other places in Australia.

Rex is a tough negotiator. My guess is that BNE isn't willing to give them the heavy discounts or concessions they're asking for.

 

[flydoc]

Rex has drawn down the first $50m of a possible $150m in borrowings to fund continuing jet ops, issuing convertible notes to the lender and appointing 2 lender representatives to the Rex board.

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02354202-2A1287384?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

 

[Melburnian1]

Rex is a tough negotiator. My guess is that BNE isn't willing to give them the heavy discounts or concessions they're asking for.

Negotiating with a major airport that are past masters with high charges and fees is probably somewhat different from lambasting the Dubbo "Regional" (sic) Council.

 

[jakeseven7]

Negotiating with a major airport that are past masters with high charges and fees is probably somewhat different from lambasting the Dubbo "Regional" (sic) Council.

Tough perhaps but not stupid like Perth Airport

 

[Mogul]

Just booked a Syd / Mel return next week in Y. Paid $15 extra each way for Row 4 seat, still less than $200 return.

This will be my first flight since the end of 2019.

First time on Rex so lets see how they go.

 

[Mattg]

Apparently SYD-MEL load factors haven't been great recently. 21 pax on the midday SYD-MEL flight yesterday, and 14 pax at 2.30pm.

Rex struggles to fill new Sydney-Melbourne flights

Regional Express had just 21 passengers travelling on its midday flight from Sydney to Melbourne on Tuesday, an industry source says.

www.afr.com

These paragraphs from the article are also interesting...

Deputy chairman John Sharp claimed load factors on Sydney-Melbourne flights were better than expected and sustainable for the airline. He accused rivals of embedding staff on these trips to identify the number of passengers.

“We have noted many Qantas employees that are regular passengers on our flights. They are there to present the worst case picture and they wouldn’t be telling anyone about our flights that are full,” he said.

Qantas declined to comment.

 

[esquire]

Apparently SYD-MEL load factors haven't been great recently. 21 pax on the midday SYD-MEL flight yesterday, and 14 pax at 2.30pm.

Rex struggles to fill new Sydney-Melbourne flights

Regional Express had just 21 passengers travelling on its midday flight from Sydney to Melbourne on Tuesday, an industry source says.

www.afr.com

These paragraphs from the article are also interesting...

Sounds like these ‘regular (QF) employees’ are helping to push Rex’s passenger loads up then!...
Probably not a good sign. I was on a 2pm QF flight MEL-SYD last week - was about 3/4 full (and full in J) - with mostly (rusted on) business flyers. Going to be very hard for Rex to entice these...

 

[jakeseven7]

Apparently SYD-MEL load factors haven't been great recently.

Tick tock tick tock ....

 

[jakeseven7]

Just booked a Syd / Mel return next week in Y. Paid $15 extra each way for Row 4 seat, still less than $200 return.

This will be my first flight since the end of 2019.

First time on Rex so lets see how they go.

Hopefully still flying that route by then...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Apparently SYD-MEL load factors haven't been great recently. 21 pax on the midday SYD-MEL flight yesterday, and 14 pax at 2.30pm.

Rex struggles to fill new Sydney-Melbourne flights

Regional Express had just 21 passengers travelling on its midday flight from Sydney to Melbourne on Tuesday, an industry source says.

www.afr.com

These paragraphs from the article are also interesting...

Joyce & co living rent free in the minds of Rex, it would seem...

 

[dk4]

Apparently SYD-MEL load factors haven't been great recently. 21 pax on the midday SYD-MEL flight yesterday, and 14 pax at 2.30pm.

The last airline which i can remember to almost achieve success like that, on the same route, was OzJet

 

[AIRwin]

The last airline which i can remember to almost achieve success like that, on the same route, was OzJet

But Rex has cheap aircraft leases and a $150m war chest...

 

[Mogul]

Sitting here in Melbourne waiting for my flight back to Syd.

Tuesday's flight down just like any other except for the number of pax. 10 pax total is not a great look on a 737 especially on a 5.30pm flight.