01.03.2021
2 min read

Rex launches Sydney-Melbourne flights and announces new routes as airline fare war heats up

The regional airline is hoping to take on Qantas and Virgin with dirt-cheap fares. Here’s where they’re flying to.
Hamish GoodallBy Hamish Goodall

Rex Airlines launches Melbourne-Sydney route

Lower ticket prices, better service and more flight options - that’s what’s in store for Australian travellers as competition between airlines heats up.

On Monday, recently expanded Rex Airlines started flying between Melbourne and Sydney, Australia’s busiest route.

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The regional carrier will launch Melbourne-Gold coast from March 29, Melbourne-Adelaide from March 31, Sydney-Gold Coast from April 1 and Brisbane-Melbourne following Easter.

Rex previously only serviced smaller routes, but pounced on the opportunity last year to purchase six of wounded Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737 aircraft.

One of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft Rex Airlines purhcased from wounded Virgin last year. Credit: Getty

The company hopes to take on the big players by muscling in on the lucrative eastern capital city routes.

Fare war

The West Australian Aviation Editor Geoffrey Thomas told Sunrise that Rex’s expansion will likely lead to a “fare war” with the airlines “at each other’s throats” by increasing the quality of their services and slashing prices.

We’ve already seen signs of that battle, with Rex selling seats on their new Melbourne-Sydney service for just $49.

In recent weeks, Virgin has matched Rex’s super-low prices while Qantas has dropped the cost of a one-way seat to as low as $99.

This route can, normally, cost anywhere from $69 to $250 one-way.

Rex is hoping to take on big players Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. Credit: Getty

Thomas said “start-up” airlines don’t usually survive when they launch, but he thinks Rex will be able to capitalise on its existing customer base of regional travellers.

“The difference with Rex is that it has a huge, very profitable regional network and it’s going to be relying on that network into the regions to give it the traffic for its jet routes,” he explained.

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