The Parkes, Forbes, and Lachlan Shire Mayors – Neil Westcott, Phyllis Miller OAM, and Paul Phillips acknowledge the recent announcement by Rex Airlines regarding adjustments to their regional flight network, including services affecting their communities.
Rex Airlines stated the need to “prolong the regional network reductions implemented in various stages in 2023 due to continuing dislocated supply chains post COVID that are heavily impacting the provision of aircraft spare parts, especially aircraft engine parts.”
The regions Councils recognise these ongoing challenges faced by airlines globally, and also understand Rex is further impacted by pilot shortages, despite their ongoing pilot training and development programs.
We have always worked very cooperatively with Rex to establish workable flight schedules for the Lachlan, Forbes and Parkes region, and we are very appreciative of the partnership approach during this difficult period.
We appreciate the constraints facing the airline and we understand that the three (3) return services each weekday cannot be maintained. We are however grateful for the introduction of two (2) return flights each weekday, and a total of twelve weekly return services. This includes an early morning and middle of the day service from Parkes to Sydney and a middle of the day and evening service from Sydney to Parkes. This revised flight schedule is set to commence at the start of April and will allow day-return travel to Sydney for the region, which is particularly important for those travelling for health and business reasons.
Rex airlines has been servicing Parkes since the commencement of the airline and we are very appreciative of their continued support as it is so important to the region.
