http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...06-643,00.html
Rex flies to the rescue for Sunshine Express
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
August 15, 2006
REGIONAL Express will expand its reach into Queensland after mounting a rescue mission for troubled small operator Sunshine Express.
Sunshine, which services seven regional destinations in NSW and Queensland from Brisbane, has struggled after one of its five Metro aircraft was damaged during maintenance. The airlines have been in discussions for some time but Rex fast-tracked its offer after Qantaslink said last Friday that it would start services on two key Sunshine routes. Rex has agreed to take over Sunshine for a nominal amount.
"That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Rex managing director Geoff Breust said. "Rather than see the whole thing collapse we decided to ... step up."
Rex, Australia's biggest independent regional carrier, currently operates in four states using a mix of Saab 340 and Metro aircraft.
It inherits about 40 staff and will continue to operate Sunshine as a separate brand, for now, bringing in a recently freed-up Metro from its own fleet.
But it also plans to start a Saab service in Queensland under its own brand, and hopes eventually to bring two Saabs into the Sunshine network.
"The idea is to put some Saab services in and see how that develops on the current network," Mr Breust said.
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