The current contract with Skytraders runs to December this year. As is not uncommon, an RFI was published well in advance of the retender to get a sense of market interests and capabilities. The relevant RFI was issued at the start of May with a closing date for submissions of 30 June. Form your own views as to why Rex waited till this week to announce that they responded to the RFI.
In related news, the ASX issued Rex a Please Explain for their "Sterling Start to New FY", "Profitable Domestic Operations for September", "Increased Profitability on Rex Domestic Jet Operations", "Increased Profitability", "Increasing Profitability in December" series of announcements that eventually culminated in a "We're in the ****ter to the tune of $30+ million" only a fortnight before the end of the FY. Some concerns about Rex meeting their continuous disclosure obligations apparently.
Rex's response was published on 4 July. A week later we get the
North to Alaska South to Antarctica announcement.
Again, form your own views as to timing (but if you're hearing keys jangling, you are not the only one).