REX: Operating the full ‘Golden triangle’: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne – watch business pricing tumble?

REX (Regional Express) is getting back on track as an inter-capital city airline from 17 December when it flys between Melbourne – Brisbane (2 per day) and Sydney – Brisbane (3 per day). Score a bargain fare for AU$69 on the Brisbane-Sydney, or AU$79 on the Brisbane – Melbourne routes.

Background

REX started its ambitions as a major domestic competitor on capital city routes back in March – and then of course was beset by Australian state border lockdowns, and had to suspend its operations, while maintaining its regional operations under government subsidy.

With most state borders open, federal and state governments mostly committed to keeping them open, and a pretty good vaccination rate across the country of over 80% fully vaxed and over 90% with at least a single dose, REX is now returning to capital city flying with some confidence.

Fare wars

Their initial business class pricing certainly affected competitor Virgin Australia’s fares. but didn’t seem to provide much of a challenge to Qantas. With them back in the air – pricing should get interesting, especially when business flying gets closer to pre-pandemic popularity. With Virgin, Qantas and Rex all flying the same 737s between capital cities, the competition comes down to service and price. Get out the popcorn to see who wins this skirmish.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

I was scheduled to fly with them on their first day back in March, but due to complications of lockdowns, couldn’t take the flight. I hope I might be able to sometime, probably in 2022.