South Australia’s largest regional airline, Regional Express (Rex) continues to strengthen its commitment to regional South Australia by upgrading its aircraft fleet as well as introducing additional services on key routes starting 5 March 2006.
Ceduna, Whyalla, Broken Hill and Mt Gambier will see various services previously flown by 19 seat Metro 23 aircraft replaced with 34 seat Saab 340 aircraft with in-flight service and toilet / washroom facilities. In addition, Rex schedules have been revised to improve the timing for regional passengers flying to Adelaide.
Commenting on changes to the Adelaide network Rex’s Managing Director Geoff Breust said “This is a continuation of our strategy to grow regional air services across our network. Our commitment to regional South Australia is a high priority. With passenger demand continuing to grow, Rex is pleased to bring a higher level of service with our larger Saab aircraft and increased frequencies at other times using our 19 seat Metros.”
Changes to Rex’s operations to commence on 5 March are as follows:
Ceduna to Adelaide
- Saab service departing Adelaide at 5:25 pm and returning at 7:15 pm on Sunday to replace Metro service currently departing Adelaide at 12:10 pm and returning at 2:00 pm to offer regional travellers a later flight after the weekend and cater for strong demand.
- Saab to replace Metro service departing Adelaide at 5:25 pm returning at 7:15 pm on Monday and Friday
- Saab to replace Metro service departing Adelaide at 7:10 am returning at 9:00 am Monday and Friday.
- As a result morning and evening return services Mondays and Fridays and the Sunday evening service will be operated with larger Saab aircraft in addition to the current Metro 23 services
- Available seats have increased by 23 percent as a result of the Saab services.
Whyalla to Adelaide
- Additional Metro service departing Adelaide at 2:25 pm and returning from Whyalla at 3:30 pm each Wednesday and Thursday
- Saab service to replace Metro service departing Adelaide at 2:25 pm and returning at 3:30 pm on Friday to provide greater capacity on Friday afternoons
- Saab service departing Adelaide at 2:25 pm and returning at 3:30 pm on Sunday replacing Metro service currently departing Adelaide at 9:10 am and returning at 10:15 am offering travellers a later weekend flight to maximise time spent in either Adelaide or Whyalla.
- Available seats have increased by 11 percent as a result of these changes
Mt Gambier to Adelaide
- Friday Metro service currently departing Adelaide at 11:30 am returning from Mt Gambier at 1:00 pm will depart Adelaide at 11:00 am and return at 12:30 pm and operated with larger Saab aircraft
Broken Hill to Adelaide
- Saab aircraft will replace Metro aircraft on Saturday service departing Adelaide at 6:40 am arriving in Broken Hill at 7:50 am and returning from Broken Hill at 8:05 am arriving in Adelaide at 9:20 am
Rex operates services to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Ceduna, Olympic Dam, Coober Pedy, Kingscote and Broken Hill. Rex is also Australia’s largest listed regional airline operating over 1,100 flights weekly on 33 routes from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide with a fleet of 29 aircraft.
Mr Breust said that Rex’s strategy in bringing affordable fares and quality services to regional Australia had been the catalyst for significant increases in passenger growth. The airline, which listed on the ASX last November, released its half yearly results last week with a threefold increase in Net Profit after Tax to $9.3m on revenues of $77.9m.
Rex recently opened a special corporate lounge facility at the new Adelaide Airport Domestic Terminal. Members to the lounge can sample the fine food and wine supplied by Boston Bay Wines while enjoying state-of-the-art High-Definition television on the Panasonic Viera Plasma Screen. The lounge is set up as a wireless hotspot; meaning business travellers are able to remotely check emails and access the internet at broadband speeds using wifi-enabled laptops or handheld devices. Membership can be secured via the Rex website.
Rex is also working closely with Adelaide Airport Limited to revise facilities at the new terminal building to give regional travellers a better deal.
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