Rex offers to help stranded passengers
Wednesday Nov 21 19:28 AEDT
Australia's largest independent regional airline, Regional Express, is poised to help any passengers with uncertain travel plans in the wake of O'Connor Airlines being placed into voluntary administration.
General manager network strategy and sales Warrick Lodge said Rex currently operates 64 flights per week between Mount Gambier and Adelaide, and has enough capacity on the route to accommodate extra passengers if required.
"We will monitor the situation closely and we have developed contingency plans to add more flights without needing any extra crews or aircraft on most days if necessary," Mr Lodge said.
"Additionally, passengers travelling from Port Augusta may access Rex services from nearby Whyalla if they wish.
"Rex currently operates 68 flights per week between Whyalla and Adelaide."
Mr Lodge urged customers to confirm bookings early, especially for the Christmas period, to avoid disappointment.
He also predicted that many of the smaller regional airlines will be faced with the same predicament as O'Connor in coming months, given the severe shortage of pilots and engineers and the spiralling costs of fuel and regulatory compliance.
"There may be many regional cities that will not have an air service," he said.