This weekend marks the end of an era for Regional Express (Rex) with the last Metro operations in regular services by the airline.
The last Metro service from Adelaide to Broken Hill operates this evening, the last to Ceduna Saturday morning and the last to Coober Pedy on Sunday.
All Rex airline services in South Australia and right across its network from Monday 9 October will be conducted with 34 seat Saab 340 aircraft.
Rex Managing Director Mr Geoff Breust said the Metro aircraft type had served Rex and its predecessor Kendell Airlines well over the past two decades.
“First the 16 seat Metro II and then from 1992 new 19 seat Metro 23s, provided both Kendell and then Rex with an aircraft which was ideally suited to the longer thin routes on parts of the airlines’ route network.
“The Metro’s pressurised cabin, speed and very good operating economics provided the platform for services to many regional communities that otherwise may not have had the benefit of an air service. It also enabled Rex to grow the passenger market on these routes to the level where we can now upgrade fully to 34 seat Saab services.
“This marks yet another significant milestone in the continued development of Rex and our services, especially for our route network in South Australia. The upgrade from Metro to Saab has been part of our strategy for the last two years and will from next week add even more seating capacity to Broken Hill, Ceduna and Coober Pedy services,” Mr Breust said.
However, the Rex Metro 23 aircraft will not disappear. They will continue to operate special charter services including a regular charter service from Adelaide to Olympic Dam for BHP Billiton in addition to Rex’s scheduled Saab service to Olympic Dam.
Rex is not only Australia’s largest independent regional airline but also South Australia’s largest regional airline operating services to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Ceduna, Olympic Dam, Coober Pedy, Kingscote and linking Adelaide with Broken Hill.
Rex operates over 1,200 flights weekly to 32 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Last week Rex announced the acquisition of 25 latest generation Saab 340B Plus aircraft under a leasing agreement with Saab Aircraft Leasing. The aircraft will be introduced over the next three years and will be used to upgrade the Rex fleet and expand its operation.
The Rex schedule from Monday 9 October 2006 with all Saab 340 services is set out below.
This weekend marks the end of an era for Regional Express (Rex) with the last Metro operations in regular services by the airline.
The last Metro service from Adelaide to Broken Hill operates this evening, the last to Ceduna Saturday morning and the last to Coober Pedy on Sunday.
All Rex airline services in South Australia and right across its network from Monday 9 October will be conducted with 34 seat Saab 340 aircraft.
Rex Managing Director Mr Geoff Breust said the Metro aircraft type had served Rex and its predecessor Kendell Airlines well over the past two decades.
“First the 16 seat Metro II and then from 1992 new 19 seat Metro 23s, provided both Kendell and then Rex with an aircraft which was ideally suited to the longer thin routes on parts of the airlines’ route network.
“The Metro’s pressurised cabin, speed and very good operating economics provided the platform for services to many regional communities that otherwise may not have had the benefit of an air service. It also enabled Rex to grow the passenger market on these routes to the level where we can now upgrade fully to 34 seat Saab services.
“This marks yet another significant milestone in the continued development of Rex and our services, especially for our route network in South Australia. The upgrade from Metro to Saab has been part of our strategy for the last two years and will from next week add even more seating capacity to Broken Hill, Ceduna and Coober Pedy services,” Mr Breust said.
However, the Rex Metro 23 aircraft will not disappear. They will continue to operate special charter services including a regular charter service from Adelaide to Olympic Dam for BHP Billiton in addition to Rex’s scheduled Saab service to Olympic Dam.
Rex is not only Australia’s largest independent regional airline but also South Australia’s largest regional airline operating services to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Ceduna, Olympic Dam, Coober Pedy, Kingscote and linking Adelaide with Broken Hill.
Rex operates over 1,200 flights weekly to 32 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Last week Rex announced the acquisition of 25 latest generation Saab 340B Plus aircraft under a leasing agreement with Saab Aircraft Leasing. The aircraft will be introduced over the next three years and will be used to upgrade the Rex fleet and expand its operation.
The Rex schedule from Monday 9 October 2006 with all Saab 340 services is set out below.
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