Even though Regional Express (Rex) only commenced Boeing 737 operations earlier this year, the domestic carrier seems to be having some success with its foray into the Australian domestic market. Earlier this week, Rex announced plans to add an additional two Boeing 737-800s to its fleet and hopes to have ten by the end of 2021.
in addition to expanding its fleet, Rex also plans to grow its domestic jet network. According to the airline, this network will include include “other capital cities” or “large regional centres.” The Australian airline simply added that these “new routes will be announced shortly.”
Rex currently operates a fleet of six Boeing 737-800 aircraft out of bases in Sydney and Melbourne, serving Canberra, the Gold Coast and Adelaide, as well as a “trunk route” linking Sydney and Melbourne. Each of these Boeing 737 aircraft were previously operated by Virgin Australia but were returned to lessors in early 2020 when the airline entered administration and decided to downsize its fleet.
Similarly to the first six Boeing 737 aircraft, the next two aircraft which are scheduled to arrive at the airline in September were also used by Virgin Australia. While the airline has stated that it plans to have a fleet of 10 Boeing 737 aircraft by the end of this year, the airline has not publicly announced a timeframe for when these final two aircraft may arrive.
Rex has been able to fund its Boeing 737 operation using a $150 million Australian dollar investment loan from PAG Regulus Holdings Pty Ltd. According to Rex Deputy Chairman John Sharp, the airline has been “following the initial plan for its expansion and operations” which was originally set out in September 2020 when Rex first announced it would be entering the Australian domestic market.
