Rex Airlines: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted to revision 242456668 by 122.106.107.149; Unsourced changes. (TW)
Line 104: Line 104:
=== Fleet ===
=== Fleet ===


As of September 2008, 43 aircraft are in the expanding fleet.<ref>[http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=340&regholdin=&regopin=regional+express&serialin=&num_results=50&Search=Search CASA] Australian civil register database. Online search conducted [[2008]]-[[09-06]]</ref> In July 2008 the company announced that all of its 340As would be converted to freighters.<ref name="KEQ"/> A Saab 340B was withdrawn from service to be used as a source of spare parts and the first of the 340A freighter conversions was sold in July 2008.<ref name="KEQ">{{cite web | title = Rex Announces Sale Of SAAB 340A Freighter To Bridges | publisher = Regional Express | date = 2008-07-10 | url = http://www.regionalexpress.com.au/MediaAndPressClippings/ShowNews.aspx?Site=IR&nid=184 | accessdate = 2008-08-24 }}</ref>
As of October 2008, 43 aircraft are in the expanding fleet.<ref>[http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=340&regholdin=&regopin=regional+express&serialin=&num_results=50&Search=Search CASA] Australian civil register database. Online search conducted [[2008]]-[[09-06]]</ref> In July 2008 the company announced that all of its 340As would be gradually phased out of service with the majority to be converted to freighters for Pel-Air. The first was a frieghter sold to Bridges in Slovenia, the second is the first of the freighters for Pel-Air. The third 340A (KDI) will be sold to Argentine regional airline SOL as a passenger aircraft and a fourth unit is due to start its freighter conversion in late October.<ref name="KEQ"/> A Saab 340B was withdrawn from service to be used as a source of spare parts and the first of the 340A freighter conversions was sold in July 2008.<ref name="KEQ">{{cite web | title = Rex Announces Sale Of SAAB 340A Freighter To Bridges | publisher = Regional Express | date = 2008-07-10 | url = http://www.regionalexpress.com.au/MediaAndPressClippings/ShowNews.aspx?Site=IR&nid=184 | accessdate = 2008-08-24 }}</ref>


<center>
<center>
Line 115: Line 115:
|-
|-
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340A]]
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340A]]
|7
|6
|To be converted to freighters, and then sold or transferred to Pel-Air.<ref name="KEQ"/>
|Getting phased out of service, most to undergo freighter conversion.<ref name="KEQ"/>
|-
|-
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340B]]
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340B]]
Line 123: Line 123:
|-
|-
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340B+]]
|[[Saab 340|Saab 340B+]]
|14
|15
|12 to be delivered
|11 to be delivered
|-
|-
|}
|}

Revision as of 15:37, 10 October 2008

REX (Regional Express)
File:Rex..gif
IATA ICAO Callsign
ZL RXA REX
Founded2002
Fleet size43
Destinations29 (three suspended)
Parent companyRegional Express Holdings Limited
HeadquartersWagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Key peopleJim Davis, Managing Director[1]

Lim Kim Hai, Executive Chairman/ Majority Shareholder [2]

Chris Hine, Chief Pilot
Websitewww.rex.com.au

Regional Express Pty Ltd (also known as Rex), is an airline based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It operates scheduled regional services.[3] It is Australia's largest regional airline outside the Qantas group of companies and serves the Eastern states and South Australia. Its entire fleet consists of Swedish built Saab 340 turboprop aircraft seating 33, 34 or 36 passengers.

History

The airline was established in 2002 when the Australiawide Airlines consortium (set up by former Ansett employees) acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, merged the two companies and started operations in August 2002 as Rex.[3] In 2005, Australiawide Airlines was renamed Regional Express Holdings and partially floated on the Australian Securities Exchange.[4] On 30 November, 2005, Rex announced the acquisition of the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline.[5]

Regional Express Headquarters

In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough.[6] This exacerbated an existing problem within the company of not having enough pilots to crew its flights (due to the expansion of larger airlines, especially Jetstar Airways and Virgin Blue Airlines),[7][8] and Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane[9] (and from Sydney to Cooma, New South Wales during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields)[10] in November 2007. To provide a medium-term solution to the pilot shortage, Rex announced that it was establishing a cadet-pilot flight-training programme.[11] At the same time, Rex announced the impending retirement of Managing director Geoff Breust.[12]

Services

A Fairchild Metro 23 formerly operated by Regional Express
The Arid Zone Artists' mural on VH-EKD
Regional Express Saab 340A aircraft VH-ZLY at Melbourne Airport

from Adelaide, South Australia

from Brisbane, Queensland

from Melbourne, Victoria

from Sydney, New South Wales

Fleet

File:340Akdk.jpg
The Regional Express Livery.

Rex operates a large fleet of twin turboprop engined SAAB 340 passenger aircraft of all versions. Several 340Bs, a 340A and all Kendell CRJ-200s and Hazelton Metros were taken out of service following the establishment of Regional Express. Since then the former Kendell Metro fleet has also been gradually phased out of service, with the remaining four aircraft being transferred to Pel-Air in late 2006 and the first half of 2007.[15]

Since the establishment of the airline, Regional Express has added over twenty SAABs to those inherited from Kendell and Hazelton to expand its fleet. Of these, two are former Hazelton aircraft that served with other operators before being bought by Rex. One aircraft was operated by Kendell Airlines and Rex, then flew in Europe for several years before being re-leased by Rex.

Regional Express rotates all of its aircraft between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The delivery of 25 ex-American Eagle Saab 340B Plus aircraft (to be leased) over 3 years starting in mid-2007 will enable the expansion of services and the conversion of the Saab 340A's into freighters, and increase the fleet to about 50 units. The 340B Plus has a quieter and more comfortable interior, with the usual leather seating that is typical to the Saab 340. As of September 2008 13 of the 25 aircraft have been delivered.[16]

Special logos

VH-TRX has a caricature of Kay Hull, visible below the forward cabin window.

When the Regional Express livery was first introduced, the logos of the former operators Kendell and Hazelton were located underneath the leading passenger window to the rear of the main entrance door (one aircraft, VH-EKH, still displays these logos with the motto "Our heart is in the country").

In addition to VH-EKH mentioned above, several aircraft in the Rex fleet display special logos or other visual features:

  • VH-EKD has a mural on the LH forward fuselage (Right) promoting the outback City of Broken Hill. This mural was executed by a group known as the Arid Zone Artists in 1998.
  • VH-TRX has a caricature of Kay Hull MHR (Right), whose efforts were instrumental in helping Rex to become established, on the LH forward fuselage. The City of Wagga Wagga is within her electorate of Riverina.
  • VH-ZLR does not display the Rex reservations telephone number.
  • Several aircraft also have decals displaying the SAAB corporate logo on the entry door or the "Our heart is in the country" motto; some have both.
  • VH-ZRX has "SAAB 340" written on the door instead of a Saab corporate logo, a relic of its service with Air Nelson.

Fleet

As of October 2008, 43 aircraft are in the expanding fleet.[17] In July 2008 the company announced that all of its 340As would be gradually phased out of service with the majority to be converted to freighters for Pel-Air. The first was a frieghter sold to Bridges in Slovenia, the second is the first of the freighters for Pel-Air. The third 340A (KDI) will be sold to Argentine regional airline SOL as a passenger aircraft and a fourth unit is due to start its freighter conversion in late October.[16] A Saab 340B was withdrawn from service to be used as a source of spare parts and the first of the 340A freighter conversions was sold in July 2008.[16]

Regional Express Airlines fleet (as of June 2008)
Aircraft Total Notes
Saab 340A 6 Getting phased out of service, most to undergo freighter conversion.[16]
Saab 340B 22 One withdrawn from use.
Saab 340B+ 15 11 to be delivered

Aircraft orders

Rex has ordered 25 ex American Eagle SAAB 340B Plus aircraft, which have extended wingtips (offered as an option on Saab 340B Plus aircraft) to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency, plus improved interior soundproofing. The first was originally scheduled to arrive in late 2006, however Rex took delivery of the first on April 30, 2007; it entered service on June 6th. By March 2008, nine had been delivered, bringing the REX fleet to 40. The 340B Plus aircraft are fitted with optional Hamilton Standard propellers instead of the Dowty Rotol propellers fitted to the existing fleet.

References

  1. ^ Rex appoints new MD > AviationRecord > Search Results
  2. ^ Our Company :: Leadership
  3. ^ a b Flight International 12-18 April 2005
  4. ^ Rex Invests in Pel-Air
  5. ^ Rex Acquires Air Link
  6. ^ Rex Touches Down in Queensland retrieved 2007-11-16.
  7. ^ Rex Warns of Looming Catastrophic Shortage of Pilots in Australia retrieved 2007-11-16.
  8. ^ Presentation at Press Conference held on 7 November 2007 retrieved 2007-11-16.
  9. ^ Rex Announces Suspension of Maryborough Service due to Pilot Shortage retrieved 2007-11-16.
  10. ^ Ongoing Pilot Shortage Forces Regional Express to Temporarily Suspend 'Snowy Mountains' Service retrieved 2007-11-16.
  11. ^ Rex and Mangalore Airport Announce Creation of Pilot Academy retrieved 2007-11-16.
  12. ^ Rex Discloses Retirement of its Managing Director retrieved 2007-11-16.
  13. ^ a b "Rex Announces Network Changes Due to Pilot Shortage" (html). Regional Express Airlines. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-05-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ "Rex makes cuts to flight schedule" (html). Fairfax. The Daily Advertiser. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2008-05-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ CASA Australian civil register database. Online search conducted 2007-08-16
  16. ^ a b c d "Rex Announces Sale Of SAAB 340A Freighter To Bridges". Regional Express. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  17. ^ CASA Australian civil register database. Online search conducted 2008-09-06

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Regional Express.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rex_Airlines&oldid=244387896"