Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

[jakeseven7]

Wrong there... Sharp's managed to put Rex in the AFR quite a few times This then gets picked up by other news sites who call it a feud between Rex and Qantas.

As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity!

It can be bad PR when you are being portrayed as weak, putting 5 people on a flight - which is starting to seep out into mainstream media and your viability being questioned.
Then people get nervous to book you, vicious circle....

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Any insights into how long Rex will stay with each capital city to capital city route?

 

[HS-TQE]

Reportedly the old ex-VA aircraft that REX acquired from the lessors were the least reliable aircraft in the fleet when it was with VA.

Not surprisingly VA mk2 also chose not to pick up some of the remaining oldest (mortgaged, formerly owned) aircraft that are still stored.

I wouldn't be surprised if VA doesn't bother with the current REX aircraft if they end up back on the market by the lessors.

 

[Mattg]

Wrong there... Sharp's managed to put Rex in the AFR quite a few times This then gets picked up by other news sites who call it a feud between Rex and Qantas.

As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity!

I was making a distinction between publicity and advertising. They're not the same thing.

 

[dajop]

I was making a distinction between publicity and advertising. They're not the same thing.

Although if carefully managed the former can displace the need for the latter, something that Qantas does exceptionally well (and the media eats up).

 

[Mattg]

Although if carefully managed the former can displace the need for the latter, something that Qantas does exceptionally well (and the media eats up).

Very true (although Qantas does also advertise). Sadly, Rex doesn't seem capable of this and has largely turned the media (and public) off-side with its antics.

 

[henrus]

I was making a distinction between publicity and advertising. They're not the same thing.

Haha, my response was a bit tongue in cheek.

Advertising will help but the one thing they lack is capturing consumer who searches directly with airlines. I'm sure many on here (and I know many people) who start their search directly with an airline and if they're reasonably happy with the time and price they just book it.

Obviously, there are other ways they can capture booking (travel agents, BFOD policies etc). Rex somehow needs reach these people by jumping up and down saying they're better/cheaper than the competition.

As someone mentioned up thread, flying people for free (or making them just pay taxes ~$25) would be a great start. An alternative would be to quickly launch a frequent flyer program and make people want to use it (status matches, bonus points/status, fly 2 flights and 3rd is free etc).

One of the most genius pieces of marketing I've seen this week was BWS. 1hr guaranteed delivery or your next delivery fee is free. Chances are they'll make the delivery time but if not they bring you back to make a new purchase (because you'd get free delivery next time). Rex could offer free extra legroom seating or some other perk on next flight if the flight is delayed (this sort of thing captures media attention).

 

[MooTime]

Haha, my response was a bit tongue in cheek.

Advertising will help but the one thing they lack is capturing consumer who searches directly with airlines. I'm sure many on here (and I know many people) who start their search directly with an airline and if they're reasonably happy with the time and price they just book it.

Obviously, there are other ways they can capture booking (travel agents, BFOD policies etc). Rex somehow needs reach these people by jumping up and down saying they're better/cheaper than the competition.

As someone mentioned up thread, flying people for free (or making them just pay taxes ~$25) would be a great start. An alternative would be to quickly launch a frequent flyer program and make people want to use it (status matches, bonus points/status, fly 2 flights and 3rd is free etc).

One of the most genius pieces of marketing I've seen this week was BWS. 1hr guaranteed delivery or your next delivery fee is free. Chances are they'll make the delivery time but if not they bring you back to make a new purchase (because you'd get free delivery next time). Rex could offer free extra legroom seating or some other perk on next flight if the flight is delayed (this sort of thing captures media attention).

That BWS free delivery if not arrived within an hour is a little mischievous. As they also offer free delivery of all orders above $20.
So it's always free delivery as not sure what you could get under $20...maybe 6-pack or red vinegar (red vino).

note I think this is a Vic only offer, not sure.

 

[henrus]

That BWS free delivery if not arrived within an hour is a little mischievous. As they also offer free delivery of all orders above $20.

A bit off topic but the standard rate is $10 delivery for overs above $20. If your order is under $20 then it's not eligible for delivery. It is genius because if you don't get your order within 1 hour then the $10 fee is free next time and obviously one must make another order to redeem their free delivery so it convinces people to buy more.

To generate more free advertising Rex could go down a similar path... Melbourne to Sydney with a guarantee that you'll arrive within an hour (or some other time) of the time you booked or your next flight is on us (they could even say but you have to pay taxes).

This sort of thing would make the news and make people want to try them out on the hope they may even get a free flight out of it.

 

[Saab34]

Reportedly the old ex-VA aircraft that REX acquired from the lessors were the least reliable aircraft in the fleet when it was with VA.

Not surprisingly VA mk2 also chose not to pick up some of the remaining oldest (mortgaged, formerly owned) aircraft that are still stored.

I wouldn't be surprised if VA doesn't bother with the current REX aircraft if they end up back on the market by the lessors.

A couple of those older ex VA machines are also now in China getting converted to freighters.

 

[MooTime]

A couple of those older ex VA machines are also now in China getting converted to freighters.

How do you guys know this sheet? Where the planes are at any given moment, who has taken them & for what reason.

obviously some website, cool, Good stuff though, quite interesting, yet makes me chuckle at times!
I'm member of Flightradar24, but very briefly use it.

cheers

 

[Saab34]

How do you guys know this sheet? Where the planes are at any given moment, who has taken them & for what reason.

obviously some website, cool, Good stuff though, quite interesting, yet makes me chuckle at times!
I'm member of Flightradar24, but very briefly use it.

cheers

I saw a photo someone posted somewhere online of them parked at some airport in China , in prep for getting converted. One was the Tiger 737 I think the other the VA bird

 

[Melburnian1]

If anyone feels like a laugh, John Sharp wrote an opinion piece for the AFR yesterday...

No Mr Joyce, Qantas’ ‘best game’ doesn’t beat Rex

The chief executive likes to brag how strong the airline is. But it’s heavily in debt and burning cash.

www.afr.com

QF's financial position is no laughing matter.

But ZL must be bleeding from its foray into the so-called 'mainline' domestic market.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I guess they found evidence of the Virgin spies.

Rex appeals to umpire as aviation dogfight gets personal

Regional airline Rex has accused Qantas and Virgin of dumping capacity on the domestic market in order to crush the smaller airline.

amp.smh.com.au

 

[dajop]

Another distrastrous day. MEL<->SYD, SYD<->OOL, ADL->MEL really bad. MEL->ADL was OK, MEL<->OOL was quite good. Seems that they would be better off avoiding SYD altogether and need to retime ADL->MEL.

 

[henrus]

QF's financial position is no laughing matter.

But ZL must be bleeding from its foray into the so-called 'mainline' domestic market.

Rex can get away with it for a bit, they'll charge more on the regional prop routes to prop up the jet services. Then people will complain regional fares are too much and then the gov will subsidize some. A vicious cycle!

I guess they found evidence of the Virgin spies.

I'd argue Rex is the only one dumping capacity. On many routes, VA (and to a similar extent QF) loads are quite healthy which indicates they can afford to put on the increased demand because people are flying with them.

$299 business fares that didn't exist prior to Rex's entry (slashing J prices by well over half) and running planes practically empty (or completely empty in one case) is the sort of stuff a "competition regulator" should be investigating.

I just did a search of this morning's 7am SYD-MEL flights, QF ran an A330 (J isn't showing) but Y had 137 of 243 (56%), VA was completely full 100% load and Rex had just 23 onboard (13%).

This evening's SYD-MEL 5:30pm flights all on 737's, QF isn't showing (which normally means completely full) but VA was 98.8% and ZL just 35%.

They can complain all they like but given the competition is full and they're not, something is still going drastically wrong.

 

[MooTime]

I

Rex can get away with it for a bit, they'll charge more on the regional prop routes to prop up the jet services. Then people will complain regional fares are too much and then the gov will subsidize some. A vicious cycle!

I'd argue Rex is the only one dumping capacity. On many routes, VA (and to a similar extent QF) loads are quite healthy which indicates they can afford to put on the increased demand because people are flying with them.

$299 business fares that didn't exist prior to Rex's entry (slashing J prices by well over half) and running planes practically empty (or completely empty in one case) is the sort of stuff a "competition regulator" should be investigating.

I just did a search of this morning's 7am SYD-MEL flights, QF ran an A330 (J isn't showing) but Y had 137 of 243 (56%), VA was completely full 100% load and Rex had just 23 onboard (13%).

This evening's SYD-MEL 5:30pm flights all on 737's, QF isn't showing (which normally means completely full) but VA was 98.8% and ZL just 35%.

They can complain all they like but given the competition is full and they're not, something is still going drastically wrong.

I was on QF 6pm SYD-MEL on A330 & J seemed full. ordinary services thou.

 

[henrus]

I was on QF 6pm SYD-MEL on A330 & J seemed full. ordinary services thou.

Next time you should fly Rex, you'll get 5 rows to yourself if you wish.

 

[MooTime]

Next time you should fly Rex, you'll get 5 rows to yourself if you wish.

What could I do with more than 1 row...
With lights turned out?

 

[Saab34]

These numbers can’t go on for months let alone years however I can’t see anything really changing?
VA/QF/JQ are not going to reduce capacity for a couple of years perhaps when the markets starts to flatten.

The next big problem on the horizon for them is Jetstar 787s onto domestic, Virgin bringing in another 10 aircraft, and Jetstar Japan sending in A320s. Then you have QF using widebodies on domestic.

They are doing terrible now how will be cope when all that capacity arrives in the next two quarters which is 25-30 aircraft worth about to drop.