History of Rex
The airline was established in 2002 when employees of the defunct Ansett Airlines acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines, merged the two companies, and started operations as Rex.
In 2005, the company was partially floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Later that year Rex acquired the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline.
In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough.
This expansion exacerbated an existing problem within the company of not having enough pilots to crew its flights due to the growth of larger airlines, especially Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
As a consequence, in November 2007 Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane. and from Sydney to Cooma during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields.
In November 2007, to help solve the pilot shortage , Regional Express Airlines and Mangalore Airport Pty Limited created a joint venture pilot academy called Civil Aviation Training Academy based at Mangalore in Victoria.
Regional Express Airlines fully acquired the Academy in April 2008 and renamed it as the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
The Academy was moved to Wagga Wagga Airport in April 2009.
The Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab AB and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio.
Under the initial plan Saab built the all aluminium fuselage and vertical stabilizer, and also performed final assembly in Linköping, Sweden, while Fairchild was responsible for the wings, empennage (tail or tail assembly), and wing-mounted nacelles for the two turboprop engines.
After Fairchild ceased this work, production of these parts was shifted to Sweden.
The aircraft first flew on 25 January 1983, but due to declining sales, production of the Saab 340 ended in 1998.
When Fairchild exited the aircraft manufacturing business in 1985 after about 40 units, Saab dropped the name Fairchild from the project and continued with all production under the designation Saab 340A.
A total of 159 A models were built.
An improved version, the second generation 340B, introduced more powerful engines and wider horizontal stabilizers in 1989 and the later 340Bs also had an active noise control system. Two hundred aircraft were built.
The final third generation version, the 340B Plus, was delivered for service in 1994 and incorporated several improvements. One hundred aircraft were built adding up to a total of 300 B models. The Saab 340 typically seated between 30 and 36 passengers, with 34 seats being the most common configuration.
Rex has leased 25 Saab 340B+ aircraft in the largest lease deal for the type, which has a redesigned extended wing to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency.
With the delivery of these 340B+'s completed in 2010, some of the older aircraft were phased out including all Saab 340A's.
The above information is based on material from Wikepedia
In 2005, the company was partially floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Later that year Rex acquired the Dubbo-based Air Link, another regional airline.
In October 2007, Rex expanded into Queensland when it commenced operations between Brisbane and Maryborough.
This expansion exacerbated an existing problem within the company of not having enough pilots to crew its flights due to the growth of larger airlines, especially Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
As a consequence, in November 2007 Rex suspended operations out of Brisbane. and from Sydney to Cooma during the summer "low season" for this route to the NSW ski fields.
In November 2007, to help solve the pilot shortage , Regional Express Airlines and Mangalore Airport Pty Limited created a joint venture pilot academy called Civil Aviation Training Academy based at Mangalore in Victoria.
Regional Express Airlines fully acquired the Academy in April 2008 and renamed it as the Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
The Academy was moved to Wagga Wagga Airport in April 2009.
The Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab AB and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio.
Under the initial plan Saab built the all aluminium fuselage and vertical stabilizer, and also performed final assembly in Linköping, Sweden, while Fairchild was responsible for the wings, empennage (tail or tail assembly), and wing-mounted nacelles for the two turboprop engines.
After Fairchild ceased this work, production of these parts was shifted to Sweden.
The aircraft first flew on 25 January 1983, but due to declining sales, production of the Saab 340 ended in 1998.
When Fairchild exited the aircraft manufacturing business in 1985 after about 40 units, Saab dropped the name Fairchild from the project and continued with all production under the designation Saab 340A.
A total of 159 A models were built.
An improved version, the second generation 340B, introduced more powerful engines and wider horizontal stabilizers in 1989 and the later 340Bs also had an active noise control system. Two hundred aircraft were built.
The final third generation version, the 340B Plus, was delivered for service in 1994 and incorporated several improvements. One hundred aircraft were built adding up to a total of 300 B models. The Saab 340 typically seated between 30 and 36 passengers, with 34 seats being the most common configuration.
Rex has leased 25 Saab 340B+ aircraft in the largest lease deal for the type, which has a redesigned extended wing to increase flight performance and fuel efficiency.
With the delivery of these 340B+'s completed in 2010, some of the older aircraft were phased out including all Saab 340A's.
The above information is based on material from Wikepedia
To mark their 10th Anniversary, Rex have produced a 128-page booklet which is full of information and pictures relating to the airline's development. The booklet also traces the origins of Rex and pays tribute to Hazelton and Kendell Airlines, the precursors of the present airline. To visit the site, click on the photo of the Rex Saab below.
To return to the main Rex page, click HERE
To progress to the next main page, Merimbula Air Services, click HERE