Rex takes fight to Qantas and Virgin [Jets for REX?]
 

Full article: AFR Website or similar on SMH

Last time I checked they had something like $9m in cash, their model works on low cost old planes, I don’t think it will fly. Just reading the AA article looks like $200m capital is looking to be raised within 3 weeks.

Remember, Kendell (REX's predecessor) attempted to move from props to jets in the 1990's with the introduction of the CRJ200. It didn't go well.

It was wholly owned by Ansett at that stage wasn't it, and allocated to do the Canberra shuttle (from Sydney at least). My wife always asked me to let her know which flights would be CRJ - she far preferred them over the S340 alternate.

Yes Kent,

An Ansett subsidiary that went belly-up with Ansett.

Word has it, that the CRJ jets where expensive to operate.

I dont think CRJs or even EMBs are in the picture, more likely A320/737 with a ready workforce on tap locally, smacks of Compass MK3 or Impulse V2.0

It would make some sense for this to be happening if REX had a strong balance sheet coupled with a mindset of a challenger/disrupter.

Whilst I am not familiar with the management, ownership nor culture, my interactions in recent years have felt like they were with a very staid, conservative "brown suit" style of business.

No doubt there will be turmoil in the weeks and months ahead as Qantas, perhaps a trimmed-down Virgin and now potentially REX all scramble to get their hands on a smaller number of passengers.

I can see the $200 million and the current surplus $9 million evaporating quite quickly.

REX has signed a MOU with ATR to investigate replacing SAABs with ATR 42/72 aircraft

ATRs would require a bit more runway, wouldn't they, so I can't see them completely migrating.

Or maybe I have the wrong impression of a lot of the airports they'd be flying into out west. Happy to be corrected, as it would save me the cost of an airfare to see for myself :)

Not much difference, the SAABs are not great performers when it comes to runway length, they require 25% more balanced field length compared to most medium size turboprops which puts them closer to the bigger ATRs

SAAB 340b at MTOW in ISA needs 1285m TORA
ATR72-600 at max PAX and a 300nm leg needs 1175m TORA under ISA conditions

Most likely it'll be ATR42's as well which won't have a problem at any of the Rex ports.

If their pockets are deep enough, there is an ATR42-600STOL

http://www.atraircraft.com/newsroom/...s-1571-en.html

800m puts Lord Howe as a possibility when the tender for those services is up next.

Given the operating model to date, I'd be very surprised if the discussion was around new build ATR. ATR also facilitates a leasing program, and I'd suspect quite a number of 72-600 will come onto the leasing market soon unless VARA continues largely unchanged.

Kent, the ATRs aren't part of VARA. They're on the VAA AOC along with most 737s. The crew are part of VAA with their own EBA. VARA is just F100 and A320. All parties have been suspiciously quiet on the fate of VARA. It would be relatively easy to hive off VARA, it's complementary but not a core part of the business. It could go to a new owner and be contracted to fly some flights on behalf of Virgin.

yep, we’re transferred in 2015

Thanks Yusef and Mark - not sure how I'd missed that. They may still come onto the leasing market if VA reduces regional ops.

There are still four in storage for three years that are yet to find a new home.

Rumor has it, that REX are negotiating for the lease 10 X B737 that are surplus to VA requirements.

ASX announcement
 

Does anyone know if the first aircraft is still planned to arrive this weekend?

It should be here within the next week arriving at Wagga for a repaint.

That has me thinking, since Wagga is the Rex base I wonder if one day/eventually we may see a jet service out of Wagga.

Return of a jet service!

When A97-467 departs, it should arrive in a couple of days.

I'd say unlikely, Wagga Wagga City Council has a weight limit. So much so fully loaded C130Js cannot land here. We did have a two Hercs here yesterday taking personal (around 100 personal in each + bags) back home to QLD. I would expect REX to setup a 737 base in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. I did see a big blue tug at the REX hangar in Sydney the other day.

Cannot find the document that gives the MTOW and MLW.

From the 2010 Airport Master Plan

and the apron

Even without the runway and apron weight restrictions (bay 4 had issues with the Q400, even after the resurfacing), the only bay it can park in is 6. As the two RAAF 737 BBJ have been in Wagga on one occasion, which required one to park across bays 3 and 4 to be able to turn and taxi.

The base will be Sydney, the Rex hangar and the Air Ambulance hangar are being demolished and a large hangar capable of housing a 737-800 is being built. It will still be used by the Air Ambulance team and the Saab 340's

Is there confirmation of what registrations are allocated to REX?

None yet, some speculation VH-VUF will be the first by AA

Could be. https://australianaviation.com.au/20...7-goes-to-rex/

Rex ready to battle Qantas, Virgin on Sydney-Melbourne

Regional Express will dedicate its first six Boeing 737 jets to the Sydney-Melbourne route from March 2021, before growing its fleet and capital city network from the second half of the year.

It’s a brazenly ambitious assault on Australia’s hyper-competitive corridor – the industry’s crown jewel for corporate and leisure travel – which will put Rex against muscle-bound incumbent Qantas and a streamlined Virgin Australia.

The first of six Boeing 737s – all previously leased to Virgin Australia – is now being readied for delivery to Rex’s Sydney base, where it will be used for ground training as well as venturing into the sky for proving flights (still in a de-branded white livery) in early December.

At least three jets – one of them said to the airline’s nominal flagship, bearing the registration VH-REX, which is currently assigned to a Saab 340B – will take part in the March 1 launch of Sydney-Melbourne flights, with three more now slated to be in place by early April.

Those six Boeing 737s all date from the Virgin Blue era and carry an average age of 11.5 years, predating the release of the later Virgin Australia aircraft featuring the modern 'Boeing Sky Interior'.
'Virgin not in our cross-hairs'

Executive Traveller understands these ex-Virgin jets will largely be flown by ex-Virgin pilots, backed by ex-Virgin attendants and ex-Virgin engineers.

Even Rex’s internal Project Mother codename for its capital city push was a nod to the Brisbane-based challenger, because “Mother is the opposite of Virgin” chuckles Rex deputy chairman John Sharp.

All the same, Sharp insists that Rex doesn’t have specifically Virgin Australia in its cross-hairs.

more

https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...elbourne-route

Apparently VH-VUF will become VH-REX.

So the current VH-REX, a SAAB 340 currently operating in W A will have to be re-registered.

Currently inbound to YSSY https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHVUF

Odd flight path if heading to YSSY

Holding due to traffic and wx, remember it has no priority!

TA - I checked later and see that now. It had tracked well to the SW when I posted.

No longer the case as BNE-SYD starts at Easter i guess with aircraft 4.
There is a REX press release out yesterday stating this.
Also mayby a new livery?:)

Yes by month end

AA has confirmed that VUF is heading for REX.

I'm sitting here wishing they update their livery, they need it!

Perfect opportunity.

I don't know, I kind of like how their current livery looks on the SAABs. Simplicity suits the little buggers.

On the other hand, I certainly don't think that same livery would look good at all on a larger aircraft like the 737.