New airline to fly regional routes

Regional Express (Rex) will start flying from Perth to Albany and from Perth to Esperance in February next year, but the state government is yet to reveal an airline to fly a number of other key regional routes.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said Rex had also planned to increase flight frequency and seat capacity on the routes.

The appointment of Rex, which remains subject to final negotiations, followed a request for tender process which was launched in July for a range of regulated air routes in the state’s regions.

However, Mr Nalder did not provide any update regarding the status of the other routes the government requested tenders on, being services from Perth to Carnarvon/Monkey Mia, Leonora, Laverton, Meekatharra, Wiluna and Derby.

Nevertheless, Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall welcomed Rex’s appointment.

Mr Hall said Rex would fill a critical gap following Virgin Australia’s withdrawal from operating the south-west routes, while its flights would be able to be booked through travel agents and online travel sites.

“Having decent passenger services that are bookable online is crucial to tourism destinations,” he said.

“The service provided by Rex will be a real passenger service with the online ability to allow visitors from around the globe to visit our fantastic regions such as the Great Southern.”

Mr Hall said the Tourism Council was eagerly awaiting official news on the remaining routes.

Rex is a well-established airline in the eastern states, flying to 54 locations across NSW, Canberra, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland.

It operates a fleet of 40 aircraft on 1,400 flights each week.

The WA routes will commence on February 28 once the contract is finalised.