Regional Express (Rex) has applauded the Government’s newly issued Declaration and Direction under the Trade Practices Act 1974, which secures access and reasonable pricing for regional airlines at Sydney Airport. This extends the regime that commenced in 2002 for the next three years through until 30 June 2013.
This action will ensure that Sydney Airport’s price increases to regional airlines will be capped to CPI and be submitted to ACCC for scrutiny.
Rex Managing Director Mr Jim Davis complimented the Government’s firm leadership in this matter, “Rex is pleased that the Government has been decisive and proactive in addressing this critical issue for regional aviation in a timely and efficient manner.”
“This decision, together with the recently announced Federal grant of almost $1.1 million to assist Wagga Wagga City Council install an Instrument Landing System (ILS), clearly demonstrates a firm intention of the Government to deliver on its promises to regional aviation as outlined in Australia’s first-ever aviation White Paper released in December last year:
Sydney Airport is the only Australian airport with legislated caps on the allowable number of hourly runway movements and a demand management scheme to allocate the limited number of runway slots. Without government action, commercial pressures would tend to favour the use of large capacity jet aircraft which service domestic trunk routes and international services at the expense of services operated with smaller regional aircraft. The Government recognises Sydney Airport’s role as an essential transport hub for regional New South Wales and will ensure access and reasonable pricing for regional airlines .”
Rex operates around 28,000 regional flights per year through Sydney airport, catering for the essential needs of some 600,000 regional passengers that will greatly benefit from this very positive development.
Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 40 SAAB 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 35 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo-based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
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