Rex will deploy Embraer E190 aircraft from its FIFO subsidiary National Jet Express (NJE) to launch a new route from Adelaide to Perth.
The flights, which will operate on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays starting 28 June, will be ticketed as a Rex service, making Perth-Adelaide the airline’s 12th domestic jet route. The service will commence on the same day as Rex’s new Perth-Melbourne route, which will use 737-800s.
“This is terrific news for Perth and Adelaide travellers because more operators means more competition, but in the case of Rex, it also means better service and reliability,” said NJE director Anthony Gibara.
“There were almost 85 cancelled flights by Virgin and Qantas carriers on this route in the first four months of 2024 and in the case of Virgin, its on-time arrivals and departures were terrible.
“Just 56 per cent of its flights arrived on time during that period, while its on time departures were only slightly better at 59 per cent. Travellers deserve better and they will get it with Rex, and we intend to increase the number of services once we are established on the route.”
According to figures cited by Rex, almost 630,000 passengers flew between Adelaide and Perth last year. The airline currently operates three domestic routes to Adelaide.
Brenton Cox, managing director of Adelaide Airport, said Rex has been a “wonderful supporter of the Adelaide market, including regional links, for many years”.
“Today’s announcement builds on the introduction of services from Adelaide to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over the past three years,” Mr Cox said.
“It’s great to witness Rex’s growth in the domestic market and offering more choice for travellers on one of our key domestic routes – in this case just in time for the July school holidays. The new service also will help fill a capacity gap and stimulate traffic volumes on this route.”
NJE has a fleet of seven E190s, which have both 104-seat and 110-seat configurations. The airline formerly known as Cobham, which was bought by Rex in 2022, also operates nine Dash 8-400NGs, as well as four British Aerospace 146s.