REGIONAL Express Airline (Rex) has gone into voluntary administration with regional flights unaffected.
Announced last night, the airline stated flights between major airports have been cancelled with the group’s domestic fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft all grounded.
Affected customers are being contacted directly by Rex.
Virgin Australia has made an offer for Rex customers with an existing ticket of a cancelled flight due to the administration process to transfer the ticket free of charge.
There are 13 overlapping Virgin Australia services.
Regional Saab 340 flights are currently unaffected by the administration and are expected to continue operating.
Prepaid ticket holders will continue to have their tickets honoured by the airline on regional routes.
Grant District Council chief exective Darryl Whicker said as the owner and operator of the Mount Gambier Regional Airport, council continued to monitor the current situation.
“Regional travel is critical for local communities and commerce and council is committed to continuing working with all regular public transport operators to maintain air travel at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport for the benefit of these local communities and visitors,” Mr Whicker said.
“Rex Airlines flights departing and arriving at the Mount Gambier Regional Airport are currently not affected and continue to fly as normal.”
Virgin Australia stated it was a difficult moment for the nation’s aviation with the airline also offering support to Rex employees who may be affected.
People whose employment had been affected are encouraged to visit the expression of interest form on Virgin Australia’s website to seek or apply for open positions.
It was announced Virgin Australia also intends to partner with Rex’s regional business to “enable seamless access” to the airline’s domestic and international destinations through potential codeshare or interline arrangements in the future.
“The team at Virgin Australia are thinking about everyone at Rex today, an airline with a proud and important role in Australian aviation, particularly for regional Australia,” they said.
Overlapping routes include Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Adelaide as well as Melbourne to Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast and Adelaide.
Adelaide to Brisbane and Perth were also affected as well as Brisbane to Cairns.
Eligible Rex customers who wish to take up Virgin Australia’s rebooking offer must contact Virgin Australia’s contact centre on 13 67 89 or visit their website prior to August 14.
