Australia’s largest independent regional airline, Regional Express (Rex) has called on Leigh O’Connor, Managing Director O’Connor Airlines, to substantiate comments he made to Southern Cross Broadcasting on 25 September 2007, in which he made allegations of unfair competition and price wars undertaken by Rex as the cause for his withdrawal from Whyalla.
“This is not the first time such allegations have been made and, as a publicly listed company, Rex cannot let such unfounded and defamatory remarks go unchallenged. Therefore, Rex calls on O'Connor Airlines to stop making such allegations or provide specific evidence,” said Mr Geoff Breust, Managing Director of Rex.
“The Rex average ticket price paid on the Whyalla to Adelaide route is in line with average ticket prices paid on all of Rex’s 39 routes, of which 32 are solely operated by Rex. The Rex average ticket price for the Whyalla to Adelaide route is also comparable with the Port Lincoln to Adelaide route where Rex operates up to 10 return services per day as a sole operator. Rex has worked extremely hard to make fares affordable and is proud of its achievements which have enabled passenger numbers to grow to record levels.”
“Rex does not interfere in the internal affairs of other airlines but we will not accept being made a convenient scapegoat for covering up the inadequacies of others. It is common knowledge that O’Connor Airline’s Cessna Conquest was grounded permanently by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) last month because of airworthiness concerns with that aircraft type. Prior to that O’Connor Airlines had to ground and permanently write off another aircraft due to corrosion found during an inspection. It is understood O’Connor’s remaining two aircraft are due for the same corrosion inspections in a few months time. With half its fleet grounded and no replacement aircraft in sight, it is obvious to all why O’Connor Airlines has had to withdraw from half of its routes, ” said Mr Breust.
Rex is South Australia’s and Australia’s largest regional airline, operating a fleet of 34 Saab 340 aircraft on 1,300 flights weekly to 25 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Rex recently announced the acquisition of 25 latest generation Saab 340B Plus aircraft to be delivered over the next three years for fleet replacement and network expansion.
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