Regional Express (Rex) has today announced a number of network schedule changes as a result of the continuing pilot shortage.
Rex will suspend services between Melbourne and Griffith, effective 25 February 2008, as a direct result of the pilot shortage that the airline – and Australian aviation industry as a whole – currently faces. The suspension of the Melbourne to Griffith route will have flow-on effects for other Griffith flights, with a reduction in the frequency of Rex services between Sydney and Griffith expected.
Rex has also announced a postponement of the Maryborough to Brisbane route. This service, suspended in November 2007, was due to recommence on 16 March 2008 but will now recommence in September at the earliest.
As a consequence of the severe pilot shortage, services between Sydney and Cooma, originally scheduled to recommence on 19 May 2008, will now resume on 6 June 2008.
Highlighting the pilot shortage in Australia, Rex Chief Pilot Chris Hine said, “No airline in the world can withstand a 60% annual attrition rate of its pilot strength without catastrophic damage and the fact that we have only suspended 6% of our services is a testimony to the dedication and sacrifices of our staff and the rapidity of management’s response to this severe crisis.
“In response to the pilot shortage, Rex has started its own pilot school and the first batch of 16 cadets, handpicked from 1,600 applicants, will graduate in July 2008. Thereafter we will have about 20 new pilots every three months, largely sheltering Rex from the massive recruitment of our trained pilots by the main airlines.”
Mr Hine warned that the situation will get worse in the year ahead with all three major domestic carriers – Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue – set to embark on aggressive fleet expansion in addition to the start up of Tiger Airways.
Mr Hine elaborated on this, adding “Not all regional airlines have Rex’s ability to fund their own cadet programme and flying academy. I expect to see a bloodbath amongst the regional operators in the months ahead. Even QantasLink will not be spared as evidenced by its recent reduction in services to ports such as Dubbo, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Tamworth. I foresee many regional operators not making it through 2008.”
Commenting on Rex’s latest suspension of services, Mr Warrick Lodge, Rex General Manager of Network Strategy and Sales said, “This decision has been very difficult given the level of support we have received from the Griffith City Council, the Maryborough City Council and the broader local communities. Rex will go to great lengths to be committed to communities that support us and fully embrace the partnership approach.
“Unfortunately it is often the newest routes that understandably have the lowest passenger loads. We would normally have persevered two years to build up the new routes but given the severity of the pilot crisis, we do not have the luxury of time and we need to make the painful decision now in order to preserve the integrity of the larger network.
“We would like to return to these routes in the future, but this remains largely subject to the pilot situation and the level of local support,” Mr Lodge added.
Passengers holding reservations on any suspended service should contact the Rex Customer Contact Centre on 131713 for a full refund. Griffith to Melbourne passengers also have the option of transferring across to the Griffith to Sydney service with no additional charge.
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 37 Saab 340 aircraft on 1,300 flights weekly to 24 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo based regional airline, Air Link.
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