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Australian Aviation photographer Victor Pody was on board Rex’s first-ever commercial flight between Melbourne and Sydney on Monday.
The service marked the first new entrant in the battle for the golden triangle in two decades as the regional carrier seeks to claim a slice of one of global aviation’s most lucrative routes.
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The Boeing 737-8FE, VH-RQC msn 33797, departed Melbourne at 7:21am as flight ZL18 and arrived in Sydney at 8:25am.
Here, we include the best of Pody’s photos from the day.
Tickets for early Rex flights between Sydney and Melbourne went on sale from just $49, with economy including checked baggage, food and pre-assigned seating.
The expansion is being financed by a $150 million investment from PAG Asia Capital, which was only signed off by shareholders in January.
Jeff Carswell
says:Very Well Done Rex – hopefully people will move from the useless Virgin to you – I gave up on them some time ago because of poor quality sevice.
Robert LIVINGSTONE
says:I wonder how the SAAB drivers feel about the B-737 introduction? This is assuming that it’s unlikely that they got the chance to move up and that Rex employed laid-off 737 pilots from Virgin or Qantas. I guess right now ANY employed pilot is just happy to HAVE a flying job!
Bob Pearman
says:Congratulations Rex on your first flight and lets hope it continues for a long time. Its about time we had more competition in the triangle and across Aussie.
Bob Pearman
NJP
says:Any more photos of the interior? Looks like they’re still red, grey & purple head rest covers from VA?
Robert Brooks
says:Was it an on-time departure and arrival? What was offered on board as regards refreshments – food and drinks?
Warwick
says:And just when is Sharp/Rex starting up the SYDBNESYD routes to complete the ‘golden triangle’? It’s timing has already been pushed back for a month’s minimum.
He’s only got THREE B737’s at mo, so where are the rest of them he’s supposed to have leased from Virgin?
Are they in WGA, or JKT? Why can’t they fly currently? Have heard they’re missing vital parts.
There’s seems to be something very ‘off’ in Rex’s inroads into this lucrative market, & yet, there’s no information coming from Sharp at all.
This is especially interesting considering the bs he’s been spruiking for months’ now, & more recently, what he said about QANTAS, only a week ago.
Glad I’m not a shareholder in Rex.
Its’ chances, as it stands now, on the main trunk routes’, are very, very poor.
He’ll be lucky to last until Xmas, at this rate.
His start has been a total flop.