Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

[jakeseven7]

Would Bonza do a milk run up the NSW coast out of Melbourne? - or is that a no-no for low cost carriers?

In unrelated news I’m writing a book ‘How to lose as much money on an airline in Australia as humanly possible’

 

[henrus]

In unrelated news I’m writing a book ‘How to lose as much money on an airline in Australia as humanly possible’

Wow that book could have a lot of chapters:
- The Ansett era - why not to let Air NZ get involved.
- The rise and fall of OzJet - why not to launch a business only airline.
- TigerAir - how to destroy a slim reputation overnight, hint it wasn't the TV show.
- AirAustralia - Why you need to pay for fuel in coughet.
- BackpackersXpress - Express way on how to spend 1 million without a single flight.
- The merge and fall of regional airlines, a tale of Aeropelican and Brindabella.
- Why not to launch jet services during worlds biggest travel decline.

Edit - I missed two.

- JetGo ne - Why linking small regional routes with jet aircraft doesn't work
- Bonza - Watch this space.

 

[HS-TQE]

Virgin Blue = the tragic tale of the foreign airline takeovers sinking a largely profitable airline.
Virgin Australia = Why combining a few foreign airlines with sorry track records run by CEOs with 'too much pride' teaming up with a former executive from a competitor licking his wounds over being passed for the top job at the competitor taking the CEO role at this company.

 

[Melburnian1]

Plus Qantas - still loses heaps despite more than A$1 billion in recent Federal and State government subsidies of one type or another, and has no net tangible assets to speak of given it's been expert at 'selling off the farm' in recent years
Compass 1 + 11 - so long ago I've forgotten

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I just did a quick add up of the northern Shoalhaven City (between Sussex Inlet and Berry) and it comes to about 82000 people which Albatross (NOA) could easily serve. A lot of holiday areas as well that double in size in summer.

It's not about how big the population is, but rather how many of the population are moving in and out of that area to wherever the destination is.

Even if 10% of the population wanted to go to Melbourne (for example, despite how doubtful that would be!) across the year, that's only 8200 pax, or 157.69 per week. Considering that a Dash 8-200 or a Saab340 seat 33-36 pax, you might be able to fill 5 flights a week. The Naval base might help to drive some traffic to/from Melbourne or Brisbane, but it's tenuous to say the least.
The fact that no commercial airline's done it so far probably says enough.

 

[Scarlett]

In unrelated news I’m writing a book ‘How to lose as much money on an airline in Australia as humanly possible’

I’ll write your epilogue:
Joining Star Alliance.

 

[justinbrett]

I just did a quick add up of the northern Shoalhaven City (between Sussex Inlet and Berry) and it comes to about 82000 people which Albatross (NOA) could easily serve. A lot of holiday areas as well that double in size in summer.

I can tell you 100% that it won't happen. Navy are dead-set against opening the airfield to civilian traffic.

 

[henrus]

About one week to go until the great restart. Anyone planning for the first flight (or travelling on a rex 737 soon)?

I think the only fair option to launching this brand new route is to have big celebrations for the first 7am 15 Nov SYD-MEL flight

Oh and while we're at it... I think we need to resume the guessing game of passenger loads. Now I know that seat maps a week out (even on the day of flight can be inaccurate) but the 7am Rex flight has just 3 seats selected.

Meanwhile at 7am Virgin's flight has 59 seats selected and Qantas is pulling out all stops to compete with Rex by running a 787 at the same time as Rex's first 7am 737 flight - currently 33 seats selected with options in the Premium Economy cabin sold as Economy.

 

[jase05]

About one week to go until the great restart. Anyone planning for the first flight (or traveling on a rex 737 soon)?

I think the only fair option to launching this brand new route is to have big celebrations for the first 7am 15 Nov SYD-MEL flight

Prices start at $69 in Y and $299 in J
VA808 departs at the same time and are also $69 in Y and $299 in J
One noticeable difference is that VA has no flight change fee whereas ZL charge $33 for flight changes on their Y fare.
A little way out still but EF showing 4 in J and 45 in Y for the VA808 and 0 in J and 4 in Y for ZL9

 

[jakeseven7]

About one week to go until the great restart. Anyone planning for the first flight (or travelling on a rex 737 soon)?

I think the only fair option to launching this brand new route is to have big celebrations for the first 7am 15 Nov SYD-MEL flight

Oh and while we're at it... I think we need to resume the guessing game of passenger loads. Now I know that seat maps a week out (even on the day of flight can be inaccurate) but the 7am Rex flight has just 3 seats selected.

Meanwhile at 7am Virgin's flight has 59 seats selected and Qantas is pulling out all stops to compete with Rex by running a 787 at the same time as Rex's first 7am 737 flight - currently 33 seats selected with options in the Premium Economy cabin sold as Economy.

Oh fun, you lucky ‘Freedom States’ people! I’d jump on the 787 7am flight for fun….

 

[henrus]

Oh fun, you lucky ‘Freedom States’ people! I’d jump on the 787 7am flight for fun….

haha I'm in the great state of QLD so not quite eligible although...

QLD does allow airport transits something like BNE-SYD-MEL-HBA-BNE in a single day would be permitted (with no quarantine required) however the limited flights make it difficult plus if I showed up to work the next day and told people where I'd been I don't think I'd be too popular.

Initially I thought the 787's might be in response to Rex returning but at this stage they've only scheduled them from the 15-19th and then 22-23 November so it seems more like crew familiarisation rather than anything against Rex.

 

[jb747]

In unrelated news I’m writing a book ‘How to lose as much money on an airline in Australia as humanly possible’

Not going to be very long.

All it would need to say is "Start one".

 

[jakeseven7]

Not going to be very long.

All it would need to say is "Start one".

Bonza!

 

[AussieJasmine]

Not going to be very long.

All it would need to say is "Start one".

How to become a millionaire in 4 easy steps.

1. Become a billionaire
2. Start airline.
3. ???
4. Congratulations! You are now a millionaire.... and prob being investigated by ASIC for good measure.

 

[AIRwin]

It seems like they've gone out and signed a deal directly with gogo to provide wifi and haven't bothered doing something with Lufthansa boardconnect to get the wireless entertainment working.

Obviously someone at Rex decided that wifi was more important than entertainment (and I'd agree with that). Hopefully this might push Virgin to get their wifi working again.

Rex announced that IFE is being rolled out and Intelsat;s 2Ku WiFi systems have been installed - free WiFi until the end of this month for Economy class:

https://rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=527A65596A686B4C4F676E4761706F396D54704870656161566742327846513843557654466B3173344A4F6159494E774737516F66673D3D

 

[Mattg]

Rex announced that IFE is being rolled out and Intelsat;s 2Ku WiFi systems have been installed - free WiFi until the end of this month for Economy class:

https://rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=527A65596A686B4C4F676E4761706F396D54704870656161566742327846513843557654466B3173344A4F6159494E774737516F66673D3D

*If you happen to be on one of the 4/6 jets with wifi installed.

 

[jakeseven7]

So wait Rex and QF = free wifi, VA2 still charging?

 

[henrus]

So wait Rex and QF = free wifi, VA2 still charging?

Not quite, Rex is free in business and then $10 in Economy for a slower speed or $15 for a faster speed.

VA2 is yet to re-enable wifi but I'd suspect prices to be similar. That being said $10 for a full flight pass is quite steep when many long haul carriers charge ~A$30 for a full flight pass that covers a 14+ hour flight. Especially given Rex's longest flight right now is just 2 hours.

 

[MooTime]

Books are free to read, just saying.

 

[HS-TQE]

Just in/Breaking: The standoff between BAC and REX is over. REX just announced BNE-MEL flights commencing Dec 17 on Facebook not long ago.