Rex to fly between Australian capital cities

[Saab34]

I have a couple of girlfriends at QF/VA, and they say their loads have been all over the shop (full one way, single digits the other).

I am only seeing single digits for Rex this morning for SYD-OOL, MEL-OOL

 

[Fortunatecrow]

I have just been advised that my 7pm BNE/MEL flight on 11/5 has been "rescheduled to 9am"

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Flew SYD-BNE on ZL348 Easter Sunday as VA & QF were wanting $250-300 in Y, but ZL was only $160 at time of booking. I had a 3 hour layover in BNE before heading to MKY on QF and was sweating bullets when I saw 2 & 4 hour delays on Easter Saturday & Good Friday respectively. Thankfully it seems that the Sunday schedule has a bit more fat in it and the we departed and arrived on time.
After having paid the extra $15 to upgrade to extra legroom, managed to jag an upgrade to J by approaching the gate agent as I'd misplaced my boarding pass! Her comment was "I was hoping I didn't have to find someone to upgrade..." - makes me think that they're trying to make J look full and hopefully jag some QF or VA types across in the meantime. Having said that, until they improve their lounge and FF products they're not going to attract anyone except on price.

 

[PineappleSkip]

until they improve their lounge and FF products they're not going to attract anyone except on price.

Indeed, that 'watch this space' FF program has been a long time coming.

Doh! Commented then discovered he Rex FF thread has sprung to life.

 

[Saab34]

Was booking a SYD-OOL for August and I see Rex is nearly the most expensive. I was after a checked bag and seat selection.

JQ $65 total
VA $99 total
ZL $119 total
QF $129 total.

Perhaps half the problem in why they are struggling in this market. Without a checked bag JQ was only $45 and VA $69. Went with VA.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 8 May 2022, ZL437 (1145 hours MEL - ADL) has only 81 in whY. While good it's not single digits, it's generally insufficient to turn a net profit given airline overheads and the large number of empty seats, even though ZL's median whY fare might now be $95 or more (given that a lot of days not far in the future still have A$89 one way fares available).

 

[Saab34]

Is a Syd-Mel 140, Cbr-Mel 140 also. Mel-Syd 30 bods this am.

Then I see about 4 Gold Coast flights at about 30. I can’t say I’ve ever flown a flight on a Sunday less than 3/4 full let alone 30.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Is a Syd-Mel 140, Cbr-Mel 140 also. Mel-Syd 30 bods this am.

Then I see about 4 Gold Coast flights at about 30. I can’t say I’ve ever flown a flight on a Sunday less than 3/4 full let alone 30.

So OOL is always going to be more price sensitive, but I'm also guessing that there's not going to be a much demand for what is essentially a tourist destination as there would be for BNE, SYD, MEL?

 

[Harrison_133]

So OOL is always going to be more price sensitive, but I'm also guessing that there's not going to be a much demand for what is essentially a tourist destination as there would be for BNE, SYD, MEL?

Possibly. Friday/Sundays usually do pretty good, all routes struggle mid-week.

Anecdotal I know, but a week ago I flew on a full VA flight from MEL to OOL, boarding at T4 down at the old Tiger gates. Watched the Rex flight to the Gold Coast flight board from the opposite gate. Counted about 20 pax total. Also saw the Rex to Sydney depart and it was a similar story.

A lot of their issues are (still) brand awareness. On that same VA flight, people behind me were talking about the Rex 737 parked next to us. “I thought they only flew little planes” was the remark. As much as they’ve tried to ditch the Regional Express branding, many still think they’re a regional airline.

They seemed to fair better to OOL when the fares were lower. I wouldn’t say it’s a lack of demand, more a lack of awareness about Rex, given VA can operate both MEL/SYD-OOL with flights every hour and JQ can fill the 787.

Apparently the next 2 jets are arriving soon, including the 737-800 not taken up by Samoa Airways. Will be interesting to see which routes they attempt next.

 

[AIRwin]

Will be interesting to see which routes they attempt next.

Between ADL/PER and SYD to connect with DL?

 

[Saab34]

He did hint at some more Queensland regional destinations, I assume that would Cairns. I think they might actually do half decent in Cairns, QF/VA are generally $199 each way plus from down south.

However Sydney/Adelaide should be a given.

The only issue with PER is aircraft usage. Might be a red eye as it chews up a whole heap of aircraft usage.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It's an interesting topic now that we not only have engines leased by hour, but also airframes. Once upon a time, a red eye to Perth was a given - aircraft otherwise sitting on the ground doing nothing all night. Only costs were basically variable and you could get revenue in without much effort.

Now, if you want to do some back of the clock flying, you're actually paying for every minute/hour you have the aircraft flying...not like it used to be!

 

[Harrison_133]

However Sydney/Adelaide should be a given.

Sydney-Adelaide has featured on the route map in their magazine multiple times, dotted with “upcoming route” or something like that.

 

[Saab34]

For PER to line up with Delta, they could go SYD-PER-MEL-PER-SYD. 9am departure from Sydney for the Delta arrival, and a red eye end flight to lineup with the Delta departure. Otherwise it sits on the ground all day in Perth.

However I am fairly sure 6am Sydney slots are quite challenging to get.

 

[Melburnian1]

For PER to line up with Delta, they could go SYD-PER-MEL-PER-SYD. 9am departure from Sydney for the Delta arrival, and a red eye end flight to lineup with the Delta departure. Otherwise it sits on the ground all day in Perth.

However I am fairly sure 6am Sydney slots are quite challenging to get.

The other problem is that if just one flight a day each way, if DL is late arriving in SYD, or there's a queue at customs/ABF, what happens then?

 

[HS-TQE]

The other problem is that if just one flight a day each way, if DL is late arriving in SYD, or there's a queue at customs/ABF, what happens then?

The existing interline with QF and VA kicks in, although will be costly rebooking on both major carriers.

 

[AIRwin]

Rex leases another B737-800:

https://rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=5956714145494C6A796A736C4F2F457750642F586B2B62456B326769435A4362745A454E5359504B46503951567936464A307A33752B4553736A334F4D7A774F

 

[Saab34]

Rex leases another B737-800:

https://rex.com.au/BlobViewer/BlobViewer.aspx?attachtype=MR&filename=5956714145494C6A796A736C4F2F457750642F586B2B62456B326769435A4362745A454E5359504B46503951567936464A307A33752B4553736A334F4D7A774F

If it is the Samoa 737, then this is the interior. Same original Jet Airways, then to Vistara with the same interior and I assume Samoa didn't touch it.

Thought Virgin might have tried to get their hands on this one only had about 5 years outside of storage time, flying about.

VT-JTA | Boeing 737-85R | Jet Airways | Nicolas Economou | JetPhotos

A very clean and comfortable cabin. Also a brand new airplane.. VT-JTA. Boeing 737-85R. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 6 million screened photos online!

www.jetphotos.com

 

[HS-TQE]

VH-VOS is the other aircraft reported to be coming along with the ntu Samoa Airways 738 aircraft. VOS is required to undergo checks as it's been in storage since March 2020 - the start of the pandemic shutdowns (over 2 years)

 

[Saab34]

Wow look at this mornings BNE-SYD load