REX WILL APPLY FOR BRINDABELLA'S REVOKED LICENSED ROUTES

In response to the Transport for NSW announcement that Brindabella Airlines’ NSW licensed routes will be revoked and made available to new operators under a transitional arrangement up until 21 March 2014, the Regional Express (Rex) Group announced today its intention to apply for the Moree, Cobar and Mudgee routes.

Rex General Manager for Network Strategy and Sales, Warrick Lodge, said that Rex had completed its network review for NSW and would be in a position to begin regular passenger transport services, subject to regulatory approval, to Moree by 3 February 2014 (coinciding with the start of the new slots allocation period). In addition, Rex’s subsidiary Air Link would be able to operate some services to Cobar on 6 January 2014, expanding to a full twice-daily service by 10 February 2014. On this same date, Rex would also be able to provide a dedicated daily service for Mudgee with possibly a second daily return via Dubbo.

Mr Lodge added, "Rex intends to draw upon its extensive NSW network and regional slot pool for access into Sydney airport to provide Moree with a prime time early morning departure to Sydney with an evening return to provide for a full day’s business in Sydney.”

The proposed schedule for the three daily return (week day) services to Moree is given in the Annex.

“At a time when regional aviation is facing an uncertain future, Rex would be offering these communities a high quality airline operation assuring certainty of the future of their air services. I have commenced discussions with most of the local councils to draw up partnership agreements that will provide these communities with an assurance of Rex’s reliable, safe and sustainable services many years into the future.”

Rex has been regarded as the best regional airline in the world for the last four years. In addition, the federal government’s airline performance monitoring shows that Rex has the best On-Time-Performance and lowest cancellation rate of any Australian airline.

Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 40 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 35 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. 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.