Originally Posted by
Deano969
What do we think REX will do with Cobham, leave it as a separate entity of rebrand the frames and mix the fleet into the REX fleet
One would think that a couple of SAABs heading west to swap out a couple of Q400s for the east coast could be on the cards
REX just added another SAAB this month from Silver Airways, but those Q400s they inherited from Cobham could be added to for greater fleet flexibility on busier east coast legs
I can also see part of the next batch of 737s being used to launch transcontinental, linking FIFO workers to the east coast
A few more 190s added to the east coast to help launch new routes could also be on the cards, they are very popular with passengers....
Good fleet mix if it comes to fruition
34 seat SAAB
76 seat Q400
110 seat E190
176 seat 737
Opens up a world of possibilities........
Those Q400's and E190's are all linked to contracts in WA/SA. There will be no "swapping out" for Saabs as the clients will more than likely tear up those contracts!
REX have supposedly said they will expand FIFO ops into QLD and NT. Cobham had already committed to 11 x Q400's and 7 E190's by end of the year for existing and future contracts, prior to the REX announcement.
Any further expansion is going to require REX to source new airframes and employ new crews as the ones in WA/SA won't move, will we see RPT from the Q400/E190......maybe but QF has a strangle hold on WA so breaking that will be difficult given REX's reputation.
Safe to say the troops at NJE are not happy about the take over as well!
Its only a matter of time before REX introduce and East Coast to Perth flight and this could allow them some feed from the FIFO routes to help prop up the bottom line on those flights and also boost the appeal with mining companies