Wed "The Australian" 7/8/02
Rex takes flight at last
August 07, 2002
THE turbulent ride back into the air for the staff and passengers of Hazelton and Kendell airlines culminated yesterday with the first flight of the newly merged airline.
The Regional Express flight left Sydney Airport at noon bound for Canberra, signalling the end of eight months of negotiations and delays.
Captain of the first flight Belinda Fleming, 32, said it has been a nervous wait for staff.
"A lot of Kendell staff stayed on, and it's been really hard," she said.
"Everyone's just pulled together and done the best we can. It's not the kind of job you want to throw in."
The Sydney based pilot has had to work a second job behind the check-out at the local Coles supermarket.
Behind the new paint and RM Williams uniforms, there is still a long way to go for the company, dubbed Rex.
Following the collapse of Ansett, many staff members found their hours cut back to as few as 10 a week and had to take on second jobs, while others baked cakes to ensure some form of food service remained after catering was cut.
Even as late as three months ago, overseas investors were brought on board to ensure capital would keep the airline afloat and only agreed to a deal four weeks ago.
As the Federal Government threatened to withdraw financial assistance, behind the scenes Singapore-based businessmen Lim Kim Hai and Lee Thian Soo, after advice from friends, decided to invest in an airline.
They have no previous airline experience, but both expressed confidence in the staff and Australian economy.
"We came to Australia because we like the place," Mr Soo said yesterday."At the least we thought we would have a good holiday. Now we realise how important this airline is to regional Australia."
Yesterday Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association spokesman Bill Hamilton said fuel and service costs will ruin the airline. He gave it six months.
Rex CEO Michael Jones agreed the economic climate was difficult, but was confident Rex will return a profit.
"[Hamilton] doesn't know the deals we've done and as far as I know he doesn't run an airline," he said. "We will be here for quite a while."