Australia’s largest independent regional airline, Regional Express (Rex), will soon commence services between Lismore and Brisbane, with the first flight to take off on Saturday, October 13, 2007. Rex currently operates 52 services weekly between Lismore and Sydney. The new service will connect Lismore and Brisbane with a once-a-week return service every Saturday.
Mr Geoff Breust, Rex’s Managing Director, said “The service is the first step in linking the Rex NSW network to Queensland. The link coincides with the commencement of Rex’s Brisbane to Maryborough services and we are delighted to enter this exciting new phase of our development.”
Mr Breust said that Rex has a strong relationship with Lismore City Council, which has partnered Rex in growing the Sydney passenger numbers by 236 percent since 2001.
Although the service is initially once a week, it is Rex’s long term aim to increase services as demand warrants and as the Rex Queensland operation develops.
Operated with a Saab 340, 34 seat turbo-prop, the new service departs from Brisbane on Saturdays at 10.55am arriving Lismore at 11.35am. It departs Lismore at 1.05pm, arriving in Brisbane at 1.45pm. Airfares start from $59 one way.
Lismore’s Manager for Economic Development, Ruth Povall, said that she was pleased to welcome Rex’s expansion into Queensland and it is very fitting that Rex had selected Lismore to make this north-bound connection.
“Regional air services are a strong contributor to the Northern River’s economy, and it is critical to have competitive, efficient and modern links to help the growth of business, especially in Lismore, the hub of the Northern Rivers," Ms Povall said. “The weekly service is a real boon for the local tourism industry enabling international and Queensland passengers to fly into Lismore and experience the natural beauty of our region. By the same token, all Northern Rivers residents can readily travel to north-bound destinations – operations through Brisbane Airport make it easy for travellers to connect to and from intrastate, interstate and international destinations,” she said.
The new link also enables travel with Rex from Sydney to Brisbane and return each Saturday with fares from $174 each way.
Reservations are available immediately through Rex’s website - www.rex.com.au; by telephone - 13 17 13, or through local travel agencies.
Enquiries to: REX: Ms Ellora Sattar, Media Liaison, ph: 0402 438 361 LISMORE CITY COUNCIL: Ms Ruth Povall, Manager Economic Development; ph: 0427 003 645
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