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Rex has officially signed leases for two more Boeing 737-800NGs, with another two potentially in the pipeline.
The two new aircraft will bring Rex’s 737 fleet from seven to nine, as the airline announced in February. Rex expects the planes to arrive in Australia by the end of July and September respectively, with the first to enter service next month.
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“The arrival of these new aircraft is yet another step in fulfilling our ambition to fly to, and between, every capital city in Australia,” said Rex deputy chairman John Sharp, who added that the carrier is looking at an additional two by the end of the financial year, to bring its 737 fleet size up to eleven.
“We believe it’s best to grow in a measured way, ensuring capacity meets demand. But we also need to be flexible, as aviation is a dynamic industry where the only constant is change,” he said.
“Rex currently has flights to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, as well as to the Gold Coast, and we invite expressions of interest from other cities who want a share of Rex’s trademark reliability and country hospitality at affordable fares.”
Rex has been deploying its 737 fleet on capital city routes in an effort to compete with Qantas and Virgin, recently commencing flights between Sydney and Adelaide. A Melbourne-Hobart service is slated to commence on 17 August.
Rex first launched capital city flights in March 2021 after securing $150 million in investment.
However, the move triggered a furious row with Qantas, with the smaller airline accusing its bigger rival of “predatory” behaviour for apparently responding by launching services on previously Rex-exclusive routes.
The fiery war-of-words saw Qantas CEO Alan Joyce mock Rex’s “empty aircraft” while Rex deputy chairman John Sharp questioned how Joyce could “look at himself in the mirror some mornings”. Qantas has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
