Regional Express (Rex) has announced that it will boost the number of flights between Griffith and Sydney from November 2008.
Rex General Manager, Network Strategy and Sales, Mr Warrick Lodge said, “the continued and strengthened partnership between Rex and the Griffith City Council has been a major driver of Rex’s decision to allocate one additional aircraft to the Griffith to Sydney route. The additional flight frequency will conservatively add 9,000 extra seats per year to the route, taking the annual seats to more than 90,000.
“The additional flights will depart Griffith at 7.20 a.m. Monday to Friday and at 8.20 a.m. on Saturday and will depart Sydney at 5.50 p.m. Sunday to Friday inclusive. Rex’s investment in the initiative will see two Saab 340 aircraft stopping over in Griffith six nights per week which means that regular business customers will now have the choice of two peak travel times from Griffith in the morning and from Sydney in the evening.”
“Rex has grown Griffith to Sydney passenger numbers from 30,000 per year to more than 65,000 and the latest initiative will be a significant catalyst for further growth. The suspended weekend services due to the pilot shortage have also been reinstated from 11th October 2008.”
Commenting on the improved Rex schedule Griffith City Council Mayor Mike Neville welcomed the announcement by Regional Express.
"The increased services especially in peak times will be a major benefit to the business community of Griffith” Councillor Neville said.
“The ability to be able to travel to Sydney and conduct business during the day and return home on the same evening is a real positive. The increased services and therefore increased seat availability is a tremendous gain for our city”.
Councillor Neville further stated that Griffith City Council is committed to working with Regional Express and the announcement is in line with the partnership approach Council has fostered with Regional Express over the last few years.
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 39 Saab 340 aircraft on more than 1,200 flights weekly to 23 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, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
|