REX to transition to ATRs, start domestic jet ops
Whispering "T" Jet
Survival will depend on passenger treatment also, offering fares at Jetstar levels, does this mean treating them like Jetstar passengers when things go wrong?
I have a feeling they will treat them more like Tiger passengers when things go wrong. The fleet sizes will be similar, the scrutiny around spending cash will be similar, and a old fleet will be similar.
Tiger destroyed itself in Jan of 2008 after they commenced operations when they started canceling flights due to engineering and they didn’t have much ability to transfer these people onto future fights due to full, and no ability to add on more flights. They did as little as possible to spend as little as possible, as we all know, rescheduling around engineering is expensive. Executives told the media, passengers will get refunds in 90 days and ‘should have purchased travel insurance- not our problem’. It will just all downhill from there.
Rex won’t want to spend cash looking after its passengers. Mark my words, those 738s will break down, no different to Tiger, well they are the same and older. I will avoid them due to this reason alone, most certainly aware of the engineering issues these older birds have had in the last. Jetstar is tight and might be an hour late, however the A321S is more reliable, and I won’t sit there looking out the window waiting for a Rex engineer trying to fix VOP or VUF for the thousandth time.
I have a feeling they will treat them more like Tiger passengers when things go wrong. The fleet sizes will be similar, the scrutiny around spending cash will be similar, and a old fleet will be similar.
Tiger destroyed itself in Jan of 2008 after they commenced operations when they started canceling flights due to engineering and they didn’t have much ability to transfer these people onto future fights due to full, and no ability to add on more flights. They did as little as possible to spend as little as possible, as we all know, rescheduling around engineering is expensive. Executives told the media, passengers will get refunds in 90 days and ‘should have purchased travel insurance- not our problem’. It will just all downhill from there.
Rex won’t want to spend cash looking after its passengers. Mark my words, those 738s will break down, no different to Tiger, well they are the same and older. I will avoid them due to this reason alone, most certainly aware of the engineering issues these older birds have had in the last. Jetstar is tight and might be an hour late, however the A321S is more reliable, and I won’t sit there looking out the window waiting for a Rex engineer trying to fix VOP or VUF for the thousandth time.
They also have a completely different refund policy for “COVID cancellations”. Unlike Qantas and Virgin, Rex will offer a 100% refund for ANY ticket if the states change the border rules.
As for reliability, Rex run 20+ year old SAABs yet have one of the best OTP of any major airline in Aus. They’ve clearly proven they know how to run a reliable operation. It’s also pretty obvious they know that reliable service is critical to winning market share.
Just another rubbish post from people slagging off against Rex....
They will be stronger competition than any other “new jet airline” that’s started in Aus in the last 30 years.
As for reliability, Rex run 20+ year old SAABs yet have one of the best OTP of any major airline in Aus. They’ve clearly proven they know how to run a reliable operation. It’s also pretty obvious they know that reliable service is critical to winning market share.
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I really don’t think the S34 to 737 is a valid comparison. Tiger exited the A320 with 90% OTP, they picked the same 737s that Rex are chasing and it dropped to 60% and never moved the dial.
Don’t underestimate the challenges operating a old Jet fleet. No different to old Airbus machines (ten times worse than Boeing).
They also need to get the website in order. My Son has been trying to change a flight with them, the Modify My Booking online platform has been out of service for 3 weeks with associated apologies online.
That’s ok if the 73 goes AOG just fire up 5 SAAB’s...... 
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I think the point was around Rex having no operational experience dealing with large volumes of passengers, when things go haywire. That is where Tiger failed. Regardless they only have the ability to move onto the next service. Moving 200 people onto one or two fights remaining for the day will be a challenge. Don’t deny the fact, it’s Sydney to Melbourne, expect cancellations, it’s going to happen.
I really don’t think the S34 to 737 is a valid comparison. Tiger exited the A320 with 90% OTP, they picked the same 737s that Rex are chasing and it dropped to 60% and never moved the dial.
Don’t underestimate the challenges operating a old Jet fleet. No different to old Airbus machines (ten times worse than Boeing).
They also need to get the website in order. My Son has been trying to change a flight with them, the Modify My Booking online platform has been out of service for 3 weeks with associated apologies online.
I really don’t think the S34 to 737 is a valid comparison. Tiger exited the A320 with 90% OTP, they picked the same 737s that Rex are chasing and it dropped to 60% and never moved the dial.
Don’t underestimate the challenges operating a old Jet fleet. No different to old Airbus machines (ten times worse than Boeing).
They also need to get the website in order. My Son has been trying to change a flight with them, the Modify My Booking online platform has been out of service for 3 weeks with associated apologies online.
Tiger was a basket case by the time they’d moved across to any meaningful 737 fleet, so I’m not sure that’s a reasonable comparison.
Rex don’t have “1 or 2 flights a day”. They currently have 9 return flights and I’d expect this will increase later in 2021. So I don’t think they’ll have a huge issue with finding seats for a canceled flight.
Having been there when they set up the QLD ops, I’d imagine Rex are doing the same thing with the 737 ops. “War gaming” various scenarios to work out recovery plans. Again, something that comes from the culture and SOP’s that already exist within the company.
I think the fact Rex can do 90% OTP on a SAAB at least shows they’ll treat OTP seriously on any jet fleet as well. A 737 is just another aircraft, not some special unicorn. So if the culture exists to get high OTP, it shouldn’t matter what aircraft it is.
Tiger was a basket case by the time they’d moved across to any meaningful 737 fleet, so I’m not sure that’s a reasonable comparison.
Rex don’t have “1 or 2 flights a day”. They currently have 9 return flights and I’d expect this will increase later in 2021. So I don’t think they’ll have a huge issue with finding seats for a canceled flight.
Having been there when they set up the QLD ops, I’d imagine Rex are doing the same thing with the 737 ops. “War gaming” various scenarios to work out recovery plans. Again, something that comes from the culture and SOP’s that already exist within the company.
Tiger was a basket case by the time they’d moved across to any meaningful 737 fleet, so I’m not sure that’s a reasonable comparison.
Rex don’t have “1 or 2 flights a day”. They currently have 9 return flights and I’d expect this will increase later in 2021. So I don’t think they’ll have a huge issue with finding seats for a canceled flight.
Having been there when they set up the QLD ops, I’d imagine Rex are doing the same thing with the 737 ops. “War gaming” various scenarios to work out recovery plans. Again, something that comes from the culture and SOP’s that already exist within the company.
90% ML-SY is a pipe dream. No Intersection departures or quick regional turnarounds with this machine. Now it’s the 30 min treck down to 34R with the rest of the boys and girls. Join me for the 40 min wait in the queue down at Kilo in Melbourne, no more quick getaways off Golf in between departures and arrivals.
They will need to separate the Regional and Jet OTP as it will be quite misleading advertising this, when the reality is that. Could be a clever way of covering slipping performance in the Jet statistics, especially in Winter.
Last edited by PoppaJo; 25th Jan 2021 at 21:26.
Whilst a one-off event, this may explain one method Rex use to ensure on-time performance!
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A family friend experienced this in Normanton about 18 months ago. After driving 4 or 5 hours from a cattle property, he arrived comfortably before the required time to see a Rex Saab departing. On check-in he was told that the departing aircraft was indeed his flight. It had departed ahead of schedule as they had a u/s aircraft and the aircraft was needed back at the base to replace it. Rex very kindly offered to put him up at the Normanton Hotel for the (Friday) night; quite an experience for someone who'd only lived in Australia for a few years!
Whilst a one-off event, this may explain one method Rex use to ensure on-time performance!
Whilst a one-off event, this may explain one method Rex use to ensure on-time performance!
These guys are going to kill it with Maggots.
Biggest threat to REXs existence is the next Federal Election later this year/early next year. They’d be praying to whatever god they follow that the Coalition get up.. Without another free federal dump truck of money, things could get ugly.
90% OTP is impressive as REX flights stage through capital city airports where most delays originate, Quick turnarounds in the country may help to regain schedules but operating on time from remote stands in SYD for instance takes some organizing.
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Their OTP will also depend on their turn around times VA and QF usually good large portion of that would relate to longer turn around times 40+ minutes and less punters 160 odd with business class and plenty of ground staff to help out. JQ generally shocking OTP 30 minute turn arounds 186+ punters 230+ 40mn turn around 321 usually stand off at our ports LT, ML, OOL etc minimal staff few other cogs in the wheel to align to get away on time . Rex initially will have good OTP due to lack of frequency.