Rex today announced the airline would fly between Canberra and Sydney from April 19 next month with fares from just $99 one way.
Rex will initially commence with seven return flights a day and could exceed 10 returns a day if the patronage is good. This will see the end of the monopoly on a route which had almost 1 million annual passengers pre COVID making this route large enough to sustain two competing carriers.
Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said: “At a time when many small businesses and households are still struggling to make ends meet, our fares will make a world of difference to the community that routinely sees one–way fares close to $1,000 for this short sector.”
“Rex has a war chest of $150 million funded by private equity for domestic services and we will not be deterred in our goal of bringing safe reliable air services at affordable fares to all major cities in Australia.We believe that on the Sydney –Canberra route alone Rex will be bringing annual savings of between $60 –$100 million to commuters when numbers return to pre–COVID levels,such is the level of fare gouging being practised.”
“Rex’s affordable fares will greatly stimulate more business and leisure traffic between Sydney and the national capital as the industry continues to recover,” Mr Sharp said.
The airline also expressed its gratitude for the support provided by Canberra Airport as well as the ACT Government enabling services to be mounted in the most favourable conditions for the community.
Andrew Barr, ACT Chief Minister, said: “Growing aviation links into Canberra is a key priority for the ACT Government. The investment Rex is making is a vote of confidence in this city and we are delighted to be working closely with the airline and Canberra Airport through Visit Canberra to widely promote the new services and contribute to the growth of the route.
Canberra Airport’s CEO, Stephen Byron, said, “We are pleased to welcome REX to Canberra, which is a positive sign they are making an investment in a growing and expanding region. This new Canberra –Sydney route will offer more choice for our travellers, stimulate jobs and grow the air travel market which is a win–win for us all.
“Rex will have a lounge at Canberra airport, complementing the airline’s existing lounge in Sydney which will give way to a new, much larger lounge opposite Gate 49 in the coming months.
