Rex Too Valuable To Lose – Michael McCormack

NSW Nationals

The Federal Government is underwriting tickets on Regional Express Airlines. That means you fly … or you get a refund.

Your fare is guaranteed.

Rex is working through turbulent financial times. But blue skies are ahead. Hopefully the airline will get its books balanced, find a buyer and continue to be the great carrier it has been for more than two decades, serving rural and remote Australia.

In the meantime, everyone can help Rex and, moreover, the country communities the airline serves, by making Rex your first choice when travelling. By flying Rex, you’ll be ensuring regional Australia continues to have an airline the heart of which is truly in the country.

This will ensure rural centres, which are serviced only by Rex, can continue to have an airline to take residents to life-saving medical appointments in capital cities and have doctors and other health professionals visit their towns.

It’s not just important … it’s life and death.

So when you are flying and Rex is an option on your journey, please fly Rex. Because if we don’t use it, we will lose it. And we cannot afford that.

We certainly won’t be able to afford it if Rex is grounded permanently and those communities fortunate to have one airline (some will have none at all) will be at the mercy of whatever the only remaining airline chooses to charge.

Many people have used Rex for many reasons in the past … for health, business, sport, tourism and so much more. It has been and remains the great people-to-people, place-to-place connector for those who choose to live in the best areas in Australia … the regions … and for those who wish to visit us!

I flew Sydney-Wagga Wagga this morning and the flight had just seven passengers. That is unsustainable in the medium-to-long term.

Given the recent adverse publicity around Rex going into voluntary administration, I appreciate people may be nervous about booking a Rex ticket.

You need not worry.

You will fly or your Rex ticket will be fully refundable. It is as simple as that.

This is not about promoting a business. It is about retaining and ensuring a valuable service – one we as regional people cannot do without.

For the sake of regional communities and the hundreds and hundreds of friendly, hard-working Rex employees, please put Rex first and ensure this wonderful regional airline which has been so good and so vital to the regions for so long, has a future.”

/Public Release. View in full here.