Victoria’s largest regional aviation company, Sharp Airlines, has reassured the people of Western Victoria that it will fill the hole left by the cessation of services to Portland from December 31 of Regional Express (Rex).
Managing Director of Sharp Airlines, Malcolm Sharp, said the company has already taken delivery of one Metro III - 19 seat turbo prop aircraft. This aircraft is undergoing refurbishment at Sharp’s Portland maintenance facility. A second aircraft will follow within weeks.
If Sharp’s application to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) proceeds smoothly, the company may be able to introduce both these aircraft by as early as mid to late January 2007.
After hearing of Rex’s decision on Friday night, Mr Sharp contacted the office of Federal member for Wannon, David Hawker, seeking assistance to speed up the application with CASA for the introduction of the new aircraft type.
Rest of the media release here