Regional Express : New flight connections for Port Augusta as Rex expands air services

News release - Stephen Mullighan New flight connections for Port Augusta as Rex expands air services

Stephen Mullighan

July 26, 2017

Three new round-trip flights will operate each week to Port Augusta from September after Regional Express was awarded the route licence to operate passenger air services.

The new service will improve access for people travelling to Port Augusta for business while opening up the region to more domestic and international visitors.

Rex will operate three weekly roundtrip services on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from Monday 11 September, subject to regulatory approval, providing up to 10,000 seats a year.

An expression of interest was issued to take over the Route Service Licence after the previous operator ceased services in May this year.

Rex will also offer connections to Coober Pedy, linking the opal mining town and Port Augusta by air for the first time.

Background

Rex and its predecessor Kendell Airlines have served South Australia since the 1980s.

Rex currently operates intrastate and interstate services including from Adelaide to Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Kangaroo Island, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Broken Hill and Mildura.

Rex is Australia's largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 50 Saab 340 aircraft on 1500 weekly flights to 58 destinations throughout all states in Australia.

In addition to the regional airline Regional Express, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight and charter operator), Air Link (Dubbo-based regional airline) and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.

Quotes attributable to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan

Regional air services are vital to regional communities especially Port Augusta so it is very pleasing to see Regional Express taking up this opportunity.

As the gateway to the Outback, these services to Port Augusta will make some of our major tourist destinations more accessible for domestic and international tourists seeking to explore some of the more remote parts of our State.

These services will make it easier to travel to Port Augusta and beyond for business and can also be critical for people who need to travel to Adelaide for medical treatments.

Quotes attributable to Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock

I welcome this important new regional service between Adelaide, Port Augusta and the Outback.

It's particularly pleasing to see a new connection being offered linking Port Augusta with Coober Pedy by air for the first time.

Local communities rely on these intrastate air services between our regional towns and cities to connect with each other and be able to make use of direct access to Adelaide.

The decision has tourism benefits as it will help being more visitors to our unique Outback areas.

Quotes attributable to Rex General Manager of Network Strategy & Sales Warrick Lodge

Rex is extremely pleased to be in a position to resurrect a regional air service between Adelaide and Port Augusta following the exit of Sharp Airways on 31 May 2017.

Rex is the largest regional airline in South Australia with 10 Saab 340 aircraft and 180 staff based in Adelaide. Rex also employs a considerable number of contracted staff in Adelaide and throughout regional SA and as such, is a significant contributor to the South Australian economy.

Rex understands that the air service is a vital link for Port Augusta and we look forward to working in partnership with the Port Augusta City Council and the South Australian Government to ensure that the air service is sustainable.

The service will also extend through to Coober Pedy which means that there will be, for the first time, air services linking Port Augusta to Coober Pedy. This in turn will

provide many flow-on benefits for business, government, mining and tourism related travel. We look forward to seeing the service evolve into the future.

Rex is proud to be bringing the Port Augusta community our reliable, affordable and quality service which we have been delivering to South Australia for over 30 years.