Rex went into voluntary administration in July 2024, after beginning to expand into capital city routes dominated by Qantas and Virgin.
Last month the acquisition of Rex by Air T, an aviation holding company, was announced following what was described by administrators as “a number of offers from interested parties”.
Air T says it has immediate growth ambitions for the airline, planning a “Return to Classic Rex”.
This includes putting the airline’s full fleet of Saab 340 aircraft – which seat between 30 and 36 passengers – back in the skies and reinstating all regional routes operated by the airline pre-pandemic. Air T says it intends to hire more pilots and engineers to do so.
In its FAQ on the acquisition of Rex, Air T states boldly, “Rex is here to stay and grow”.
One of the conditions of the sale of Rex was approval from creditors, which has now been given.
The Australian Government welcomed creditors’ approval this week and said it would provide a loan of up to $60 million to Rex and would restructure the airline’s existing federal government debt.
Through the administration process, Rex has continued to operate regional services, with the help of $80 million from the Australian Government, committed in November 2024.
Rex plays a critical part in regional aviation in Australia, with around half of all its routes not serviced by any other airline.
From a business events standpoint, the airline plays an essential role in enabling regional delegates to attend conferences held in major Australian cities or other regional areas.
