Rex today announced it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a lessor for the lease of two Boeing 737-800NGs.

The two aircraft are expected to arrive in late August, increasing the 737 fleet to eight, and are scheduled to enter service on Rex’s domestic network in September.

Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said, “It was only in November last year that we confirmed financing for Rex’s foray into the domestic market and within six months we have already obtained approval for the jet operations on our Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC), recruited and trained crews and engineers, procured six aircraft and started operations on five domestic routes, with the first services commencing on 1 March 2021.

“Rex’s ability to manage all of these challenges successfully and in such a short period of time is unparalleled in Australia and is a testament to Rex’s remarkable efficiency.

“Rex’s two-decade track record has shown that Australians can look forward to safe, reliable services at affordable fares, delivered with Rex’s trademark country hospitality.

“Consequently, Australians now do not have to choose between full service at inflated prices and poor and unreliable services at lower prices”.

Rex currently operates 737 services from Melbourne to Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Canberra and from Sydney to Gold Coast.

The two additional aircraft will provide Rex with the ability to launch new routes to other capital cities, large regional centres and popular leisure destinations. The new routes will be announced shortly.

“We hope to lease another two aircraft to take our fleet size to 10 before the end of this year as foreshadowed in our plan announced last September. Rex invites expressions of interest (EOI) from lessors for these two aircraft as well as from cities that are keen to finally put an end to the price gouging they have been subject to for too long,” Mr Sharp said.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 60 Saab 340 and six Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 61 destinations throughout all states in Australia. In addition to the airline Rex, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator) and the two pilot academies, Australian Airline Pilot Academy in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.