While your airline’s profitability must be a source of envy for almost every other airline flying today, this has clearly not come at the expense of the service you offer your customers. Last year, Rex was named best regional airline in the country by Australian Traveller. This was backed by Choice magazine which gave you top marks for in-flight service. You also lead the nation in best on-time departures and the lowest cancellation rates. No wonder so many passengers choose to fly with you.
Congratulations Rex. You are a success story in a competitive, complex industry. The long-term outlook for regional operators such as Rex is bright. I offer my warmest wishes for your next decade in the air.
The company has a distinguished record servicing regional communities that rely on aviation for the services people in large cities take for granted. I know first hand how much regional communities like Lismore, Griffith, Mount Isa and Taree value direct flights to and from major cities. At a time when regional aviation services are under pressure, the services of Regional Express are even more important and valued.
Regional Express has managed to be profitable and also a positive contributor to the community. In any sector this is a worthwhile achievement, but Regional Express has done so in a turbulent and volatile industry with ever greater competitive pressures.
This is an achievement that Regional Express and all its staff should be proud of.
On behalf of the Coalition, I congratulate Regional Express on its tenth anniversary and wish the business, its employees and the communities that use its services many more years of success.
It was a success that came against the odds. Rex began at a time when events like September 11 drove global confidence in aviation to an all time low and regional Australia was in the early stages of a debilitating decade of drought. Regional air services were failing, especially in south eastern Australia, leaving families, businesses and entire communities stranded and set to be left without vital links to capital cities and the rest of the world.
Over the 10 years since that time, Rex has established itself as a great friend of country Australia, committed to providing reliable, efficient and friendly air services to the regions. These services are all the more vital given the modern reality that in the most urbanised nation in the world, local airports in regional Australia have become community lifelines, providing the conduit to professional, community and medical services.
It has not always been clear skies but Rex has succeeded because it has been creative and innovative and it has been built on a strong business model. When the airline was critically affected by Australia’s pilot shortage, Rex responded by establishing its own pilot training academy. Reaffirming its commitment to regional Australia, that academy was established in the heart of regional New South Wales, in Wagga Wagga.
I congratulate Rex – its pilots, flight attendants, ground crews, staff, board and management – on this important milestone. Regional Australians appreciate your dedication to maintaining services to and from the places where we live. Wishing all at Rex safe flying and many happy returns.
The Australian Government is positioning the regions to seize future opportunities for economic growth and diversification, and we continue to invest in the infrastructure that helps get regional airlines off the ground. We have partnered with Rex, Airservices Australia, Wagga Wagga City Council and the Australian Airline Pilot Academy to support pilot training.
Rex has established a strong partnership with regional Australia. It is connecting families over vast distances, bringing business and economic growth to regional centres and providing a vital link in the supply chain.
It has assisted a number of communities hit hard by bushfire and flooding disasters since 2008. Rex has also donated air services to community organisations, relief agencies and individuals needing to get in and out of affected areas and has carried out major fundraising activities.
In return for this service, the regions have embraced Rex as their own. The familiar sight of a Saab 340 touching down at the local airport is a source of confidence and connectedness in regional Australia.
I along with my Coalition colleagues want to see Rex continue to thrive particularly as it provides such a vital service for regional and rural Australia, without which many communities could be left condemned to isolation and economic stagnation. With much of Australia’s current growth coming from the regions, including Newcastle Airport the Coalition recognises the role that regional aviation will play in transporting workers sourced from elsewhere. I want to assure you that a future Coalition government will support regional aviation. We understand that it is a capital intensive business that requires high cash flow and we will actively seek to reduce the burden that Rex and other carriers bear of various taxes and costs impositions.
On a more personal note, I have always found Rex offering a very reliable, comfortable and pleasant service. To everyone at Rex, from the Executive Chairman Lim Kim Hai and my good friend Deputy Chairman The Hon. John Sharp, to Garry Filmer and the entire staff, I would like to reiterate my congratulations on reaching ten years and look forward to Rex’s next decade being even more profitable and successful.
The commitment that Rex has shown over the years to the values of efficiency, simplicity and quality service is something of which every single member of the Rex team should be proud. The outstanding efforts of this team over the years have contributed to Rex’s recent expansion of routes linking Mildura, Sydney, Adelaide and Broken Hill.
These extra services bring great benefits to Victoria, not only for business, but also for tourism and for communities. Rex provides access to services for many regional areas in our State, and recent additional flight services build on the great success Rex has had over the past decade.
The Victorian Government was proud to assist with recent development by providing funding for the Mildura Airport Terminal redevelopment project.
The airline’s growth, along with its rating as the top performing Australian airline in 2012, as noted by Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine,is a well-deserved result of providing welcoming hospitality and reliable service, and that is a credit to the entire Rex team.
On behalf of the Victorian Government, I congratulate Rex on reaching this remarkable milestone, and wish everyone from Rex continuing success in the future.
In Queensland, Rex has been operating in the north and north west since 2009, benefiting remote rural communities.
Rex has helped stimulate economic growth in many of these communities through Fly-In/Fly-Out services to mining operations. It’s a strong supporter of local communities through regular sponsorship of regional events.
My government values the contribution Rex makes to the Queensland economy and to our society and I thank the company for that.
Its reputation for excellence has spread far beyond our shores. Last year, for the third consecutive year, Rex was ranked as the World’s Top Performing Regional Airline by Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine. I congratulate Rex on its tenth anniversary. I’m sure there will be plenty of achievements to celebrate for many years to come
Through regular commercial airline passenger services across South Australia, Rex is helping our State leverage the benefits of these projects, while creating opportunities for our communities.
Rex has a network of eight regional airports linking to South Australia and transports workers, potential investors and tourists to destinations such as Kangaroo Island, renowned as one of the world’s most popular eco-tourism destinations.
By flying to Port Lincoln, Australia’s biggest combined agricultural and fishing centre, as well as Whyalla and Coober Pedy, hubs of world-class mining and exploration activities, Rex is helping to showcase and support our key industries.
Rex’s South Australian network provides more than 30 per cent of the company’s national market share and makes an important contribution to the economic development of our State. I congratulate Rex on 10 years of operation and look forward to us working together for South Australia’s future.
Rex has been providing air travel to regional cities and towns across Australia for the past ten years.
From humble beginnings, Rex has grown into a well-established Australian company, known for effective and sustainable business operations and an unwavering commitment to regional NSW.
For a state as vast as NSW, this service is crucial to connecting our communities and businesses.
Rex’s dedication to regional areas means customers have more choice about how and when they travel across NSW and the country. This commitment to ‘the bush’ is evident through the services Rex provides year round and the charity work the company supports to help those less fortunate in towns and cities across Australia.
The NSW Government supports the ongoing efforts of Rex to connect people and businesses and recognises the social and economic benefits it provides to our State.
On behalf of the NSW Government, I would like to congratulate Rex on a successful 10 years in operation.
Dark clouds hovered menacingly over the airline industry when Regional Express airlines first took flight in 2002. To say the birth of Rex came at a time of great uncertainty would be a huge understatement. Australian aviation was in turmoil yet the founders of Rex had a purpose, a firm resolve and a vision for what was needed and what would work. This was a period which needed people with confidence, direction and a dream and those who were there at the start – the owners, investors, management, pilots, flight attendants, engineers, airport and office staff as well as the initial customers who placed their faith in the fledgling airline – ought to now look back with pride at what they helped to achieve. From very humble beginnings – local community groups and Rex staff even put together snack packs for travellers to at least have an in-flight service – Rex has grown into a formidable, consistently high performing and successful company. With national and international awards recognising it for excellence, a superb safety record and customer service renowned throughout the airline industry, Rex is a company for which we should be grateful and of which we should all be truly proud. Rex’s motto “Our heart is in the country” still rings true and the fact its base is in Wagga Wagga and it provides services linking regional areas to capital cities and therefore the world underlines the ongoing commitment the airline has for rural people. I congratulate Rex on a memorable decade as a leader in regional aviation and wish the company blue skies, smooth flying and wide horizons into the future.
I write to you today to offer my most sincere congratulations on 10 years of flying. This is a significant achievement in a period in which many other airlines have struggled and indeed ceased to exist. I have had a long association with the company from as far back as when Hazelton Airlines flew to my electorate in Lismore. One of the many things that I have always and continue to appreciate about Rex is the fact that Rex treats its customers as more than just a number and offers a genuinely personal service to all of them. Furthermore, I also endorse the fact that Rex provides significant services to rural and regional Australians in NSW, who without the services provided by Regional Expresses, would have great difficulty meeting their various commitments, whether they be for business or personal reasons. Again, congratulations on this wonderful achievement.
It is indeed a privilege to pen a message on 10 years of Rex’s achievements. Our city and region can be proud of Rex and the management team in having continued to provide growth, employment and dedicated service. From humble beginnings Rex has flourished combining Hazelton and Kendell Airlines into Australia’s major regional airline. Rex continues to proudly call Wagga Wagga home employing local people. Through the tireless efforts of staff and management Rex continues to be an outstanding corporate citizen across regional NSW. Having a regional based carrier still calling the country home is vital for people of regional NSW. Thank you Rex.
I congratulate Rex for this anniversary of ten years of flying. Rex is the pre-eminent rural and regional airline and is a lifeline for country communities. I love the staff of Rex who really are country friendly and who actually know their customers, more as friends and family. From my home town of Lismore I am well served and am blessed to have Maurice, Aaron, Corey, John and Lyn running the show. All customers get the Rolls Royce service. And we are lucky in the Page electorate that we can fly with Rex, whether we are flying from Lismore, Ballina or Grafton. Rex is going from strength to strength and as the Chairman Lim Kim Hai said in his statement to the ASX last year: “I am actually more optimistic and confident of the outlook and potential of the Rex Group than I have ever been for the past nine years.” This is a wonderful indicator of economic strength and operational strength. May Rex continue to go from strength to strength and as they do I encourage all country people to continue to choose Rex as their No. 1 commute.
The Ansett collapse also meant the collapse of Kendell, an airline that was particularly important to my region. Of course, I and the other local politicians marched to save the airline. It was ours, after all. Kendell was not just important to regional Australian travel, it was a gold standard country business born in the NSW Riverina. The prospect of losing such a local icon was more than just the loss of vital rural air links; we were losing part of our history, heart and soul. Thank God Rex was born out of the ashes of Kendell and Hazelton. In a relatively short time Rex has become the kind of friend you know and trust to help manage life, business or your family. As the local MP representing West and Southern NSW, Rex is not only a welcome community partner, sometimes it is the only one! Proof of a vision and commitment to the country is the recent decision to add a Melbourne to Broken Hill link to the network. Mind you, this first decade was also through some difficult economic times in rural Australia, much of it coinciding with a severe drought. Without Rex's strong, reliable and regular commitment many of our country regions would have struggled even more so. Like any good business, employing good people is also its strength. Crews are also often based at its regional ports, where they raise a family and contribute to the professional and personal fabric of a community. Regular passengers will often be on first name terms as we climb the steps for the start of another day (or week) away from our home base. Congratulations Rex on ten wonderful years! You have grown to become part of our landscape, part of the skies and so very much a vital part of rural and regional Australia.
Regional Express and Wagga Wagga have a shared history and it has been an absolute privilege to have witnessed, and in many ways been a part of, the growth of this wonderful organisation.
I continue to witness Rex's commitment to regional Australia and the essential social and business links that they create between regional centres and capital cities. The collaboration between Rex, Wagga Wagga City Council and Airservices Australia resulted in the recent installation of an Instrument Landing System at our Airport, delivering many advantages to the travelling public and also a number of important aviation education and training outcomes.
The response from Rex to pilot shortages was rapid and the result has been a true world-class pilot training academy in Wagga Wagga. Rex continue with their commitment to a strong engineering apprenticeship program and their roots really are “in the country” with 150 plus employees in our City alone!
On behalf of the City of Wagga Wagga I thank Regional Express for the outstanding contribution they have made to regional Australia, and in particular the Riverina and I wish Rex much more success in the years to come!
Since assuming the air service in 2002 Rex, Australia’s largest independent regional airline, has provided quality service to the Parkes Regional Airport and indeed the local central west community.
Council values the relationship it enjoys with Rex. As a widely respected corporate citizen Rex is held in high regard due to its support for the regional communities it serves. Rex has supported our region providing assistance towards local festivals with various promotional measures.
Parkes Shire Council and our community congratulate Regional Express on their 10th anniversary and wish them continued growth and prosperity.
It is with great pleasure that on behalf of Broken Hill City Council, my fellow Councillors and residents of Broken Hill, I congratulate Rex on their 10 year Anniversary. Your commitment to providing services to our iconic City and surrounding areas is greatly appreciated and Rex’s willingness to increase services has played a big part in Broken Hill being able to forge ahead in growth and prosperity. Council looks forward to the new chapter of our long term partnership with further services to Mildura and Melbourne commencing in July 2012. Once again congratulations on your achievements thus far.
On behalf of Clarence Valley Council it is my pleasure to congratulate Rex on celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Council was pleased to form a partnership with Rex in 2007, when it commenced operating out of the Clarence Valley Regional Airport at Grafton. The reliable flight services which REX provides are vital to our local economy and future development and are important in meeting the needs of our residents and visitors to the Clarence Valley.
Once again, congratulations to Rex on reaching the 10 year milestone and I wish the airline all the best in continuing its tradition of good service, reliability and first rate reputation.
I sincerely congratulate Regional Express Airlines (Rex) on achieving ten years of flying.
For the past five years Rex has provided Taree’s regular passenger transport service with the service being utilised by our local residents and those from our neighbouring council areas of Great Lakes and Gloucester.
Rex has provided a positive flying experience for its patrons, connecting people who are travelling on business or to that special holiday destination.
Rex provides a vital service for our region’s medical practitioners and legal professionals. The overnight courier freight service is a valuable conduit for local businesses.
As one of Australia’s largest independent regional airlines, Rex provides an opportunity to showcase the Manning Valley. The air service is valued by all who use it.
Congratulations again on ten years flying.
On behalf of the Citizens of Newcastle, I am delighted to extend our City’s congratulations to Regional Express (Rex) who in 2012 is celebrating 10 years of flying.
This is a wonderful achievement for Rex who have consistently been rated the best regional airline in the world, providing affordable airfares, reliable service and old-fashioned country hospitality.
Newcastle Airport is currently one of Australia’s fastest growing airports. As part owner of the airport we are delighted Rex has chosen to make Newcastle part of its regular service providing passengers with greater flying choice and a competitive price.
Congratulations to the team at Rex, we look forward to more travelling destinations and a long successful partnership with Newcastle
Congratulations Regional Express, or Rex as we affectionately call you, on ten years of providing vital air services to Lismore. From ‘parent’ airlines Hazelton and Kendell in the 1950s and 60s, through the tumultuous year with Ansett, Rex was born on 2 August 2002. Over the past 10 years, Rex has provided our friendly, convenient daily link with Sydney. For a regional city such as Lismore, at the heart of the Northern Rivers, the ability to commute is vital for education, health, law, government and business. The friendly service at the airport and on board is an added bonus. We are proud to have Rex as the air service provider at Lismore airport and we look forward to many more years of partnership. Rex has a friend in Lismore City Council. On behalf of Council and our community, Happy Birthday!
On behalf of my fellow Councillors and residents of the Northern Rivers region I would like to congratulate Rex on achieving 10 years of operating airline services to Regional Australia.
Rex provides a range of services for our local residents and visitors, with a number of convenient services to and from Sydney and a recently introduced service from Ballina to Newcastle. This new service provides a major connection between the two major regional centres.
We acknowledge and appreciate the high levels of customer service and community contribution that we have received from Rex over the past 10 years. To all at Rex please accept our heartiest congratulations and thank you - for a job well done.
On behalf of Bathurst Regional Council,I would like to wish the management and staff of Regional Express Airlines many congratulations as they celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary. From humble beginnings a decade ago, Regional Express has become one of the world’s best regional airlines, earning a reputation for excellence along the way. Over the last ten years Regional Express has built a special relationship with the people of Bathurst, carrying around 25,000 people a year on its daily flights to Sydney. This air link is extremely important for the businesses and residents of the Bathurst region, as it enables us to retain the best of both worlds – a wonderful country lifestyle with easy access to national and international cities and the many economic, educational and travel opportunities they offer. Thank you Regional Express for your support of our Region and congratulations on your 10th anniversary.
Eurobodalla’s residents and visitors will join me in celebrating Rex’s 10th anniversary, acknowledging the contribution this service makes to our community. The services Rex provide are greatly appreciated by people traveling to and from Sydney for business, private, medical,education and recreation activities. The air service is significant for both economic and social reasons and with the only other transport option being the roads, and a driving time to Sydney of between 3 ½ and 5 hours, a reliable flight timetable is an essential service in Eurobodalla. We are all touched by the warming sight of family reunions at Moruya Airport as children come home to enjoy family time with their parents and grandparents, and others join friends for a visit. Our tourism industry, as a key economic driver in Eurobodalla, has been able to establish itself as a conference destination to fill beds in the off peak times. The famous aviatrix Nancy Bird Walton once described the flight to Moruya and Merimbula as the most scenic flight in Australia and possibly the world! Eurobodalla Shire Council and the people of the Shire recognize that while passenger numbers on routes in and out of Moruya are not as great as in some larger centres, they are vital for our future. We thank Rex for their 10 years of service to the people of Eurobodalla and look forward to working with this great supporter of regional NS W in the future.
On behalf of the Narrandera community, my sincere congratulations to Rex in recognition of their 10 years of flying milestone. Rex have provided an important strategic air link for both Narrandera and Leeton, servicing the community and businesses.
Rex commenced regular flights to the Riverina area, filling the void that was created from the collapse of the Kendell and Hazelton services.
It is both pleasing and essential for Rex to provide an air link for our community and for Rex to reach a 10 year milestone would indicate that this will continue for more years to come.
Once again, I congratulate Rex for meeting their 10 years of flying milestone.
Rex began services to Albury in 2002, filling the void left by the closure of Hazelton and Kendell Airlines. From the beginning, its success has been important to Albury.
In 10 years Rex has increased passenger numbers on its Albury routes by 150% and has shown its resilience by riding out the global financial crisis. At the same time, in partnership with Albury City, it has reduced Albury–Melbourne ticket prices by 35%.
Rexnow provides 49 flights a week from Albury to Sydney and Melbourne and directly invests in our city through the employment of local staff.
Most importantly, by keeping us reliably connected to the capital cities, Rex has made a vital contribution to Albury becoming the thriving regional economic hub it is today. We congratulate Rex on its first 10 years and look forward to many more.
Thanks for keeping our city flying.
The people of the Bega Valley Shire recognise how fortunate we are to have daily flights to and from both Sydney and Melbourne.
These flights enable us to carry out our businesses in the capital cities without having to stay overnight or risk our lives on the busy highways.
Without Rex, our lives would be more difficult and the things that make this corner of the State such a wonderful place to live and work and raise our families would be undercut by the tyranny of distance.
On behalf of our residents and business people, I congratulate Rex on reaching this milestone and hope you will continue to fly, particularly in and out of Merimbula, for many more years to come.
Orange City Council congratulates Rex for 10 years in the air.
Orange and the village of Cudal to the city’s west were the proud hub for Hazelton Airlines. Rex came into being during a turbulent time in the airline industry and should be congratulated for that conviction.
The provision of a service such as Rex is critical to the development of regional centres like Orange. This importance is recognised by Council’s plan for a $13.9 million redevelopment of the Orange Airport, which is currently under way.
The Council wishes Rex the best for the next 10 years and beyond and looks forward to continued growth together.
Dubbo shares a long history with Regional Express (Rex), which began servicing our City with Sydney flights some 10 years ago and is also a partner of EvoCities which helps to promote the benefits of regional city living. I heartily congratulate REX on all its achievements since its formation, most notably its receipt of the Regional Airline of the Year 2010 award at the Air Transport World Industry Achievement Awards and being named top performing Australian airline for 2012 in Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine.
Griffith City would like to congratulate Rex as it celebrates 10 years of flying in 2012. As one of the first sectors announced by Rex, Griffith welcomed that partnership and the airline has become a good friend of the Griffith community. Griffith works closely with Rex delivering a high level service to the City of Griffith and surrounds. Our partnership has enabled growth in our region by providing a connection to metropolitan areas for business, medical, education, social and wellbeing purposes. Congratulations Rex on your outstanding achievement. Griffith City looks forward to working with you well into the future.
It is with great pleasure that I offer my congratulations and best wishes to everyone at Rex on this very special milestone. Mildura Rural City Council and the people of our region have enjoyed a long and happy association with Rex and have come to depend on the airline for its reliability and excellent service. The recent introduction of Mildura–Adelaide, Mildura–Sydney and Mildura–Broken Hill flights will no doubt strengthen Rex’s great reputation in our region. We look forward to flying Rex for many more years to come.
The City of Whyalla congratulates Regional Express (Rex) on 10 years of outstanding scheduled services to Whyalla.
The success of the service is reflected in 10 years of safe flying and an increase of 94% in passenger throughput from 2001 to 2012.
The consistent growth in passenger numbers has contributed to Council budgeting for some improvements to the Arrivals and Departure Lounge in 2012-13 as part of a possible ‘bigger’ picture upgrade of the airport and its facilities.
On behalf of the District Council of Ceduna I would like to pass on my sincere congratulations to Rex for achieving the 10 year milestone. We appreciate the very professional service which Rex provides to our community. As a smaller township we are very much aware of the importance of regular air services which we highly value. We would suffer a huge disadvantage without this great service. Our partnership agreement with Rex is particularly valued. We have found services to be efficient, timely and operated to the highest possible standards at all times. I am delighted to join with many others in celebrating this achievement and wishing Rex continued success in operating this much valued regional airline for many years to come.
On behalf of the District Council of Coober Pedy and the Coober Pedy Community I would like to congratulate Rex on this remarkable achievement. The Coober Pedy Community has been a proud partner with Rex for the past nine years. This successful partnership has delivered considerable market growth to the Adelaide - Coober Pedy route. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Rex as we face the challenges of the future together.
My congratulations to the REX team on the milestone achievement of 10 years of servicing regional Australia. REX has provided a critical service to the remote community of Kangaroo Island and our increasing tourism sector over many years, and has been the sole air carrier supporting the Island for some time. We look forward to a strong and growing relationship as Kangaroo Island achieves recognition as the fourth Tourist Icon for Australia and continues to attract ever increasing numbers of visitors both international and domestic. REX will be critical in supporting this growth, as the Island’s tourism industry and economy grows. We look forward to a long and beneficial partnership with REX for many years.
On behalf of the community of Port Lincoln I would like to congratulate Rex on ten years of terrific service to Port Lincoln. We are eight hours by road from Adelaide yet only 40 or so Rex minutes, so of course most of us fly. Rex has provided an invaluable service with multiple flights per day. Not just us, but visiting tourists benefit from cheap reliable transport to our capital city and international connections. Well done. Keep up the good work. We look forward to ten more years of growth and prosperity aided and assisted by Rex and its people. Congratulations!
On behalf of the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula I congratulate the Regional Express team on 10 years of service and support to the City of Port Lincoln and Lower Eyre Peninsula. The emergence of Rex after the collapse of Ansett has proved to be a success in regional areas across Australia. Passenger numbers on the Port Lincoln/Adelaide route have grown and the airport, owned and operated by the District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula, is the busiest regional airport in South Australia. I look forward to the next 10 exciting years of providing an affordable and efficient passenger transport network to the Eyre Peninsula community.
Congratulations to Lim Kim Hai and his staff for achieving the ten year milestone with Regional Express. Their determination to see the great work of Kendell Airlines continue ensured ports such as ours maintained a valuable regular air service to both Adelaide and Melbourne. With ongoing community sponsorship, service improvements and fleet upgrades, Regional Express continues to demonstrate that it has a strong desire to keep it in the country. The Mount Gambier Airport along with the District Council of Grant are proud of their association with Regional Express and its crews over the last ten years and look forward to helping each other achieve great things in the next ten.
On behalf of Townsville City Council, I would like to congratulate Rex on 10 successful years of operation and service to regional Australia.
Rex has made an increasingly significant contribution to Townsville’s emergence as one of Australia’s most dynamic regional cities.
The air-routes established by Rex have supported Townsville’s capacity as a major services and employment base for North Queensland’s mining and resources industry. They have opened up new visitor access to Townsville.
Ensuring the best air connectivity between North Queensland’s major centres of industry is vital to maximising our region’s potential and I am certain that Rex will continue to play an important role in Townsville’s development.
I look forward to working with Rex in supporting Townsville’s growth and wish the company every success in its future endeavours.
As we all know living in regional Australia has many special issues. Transportation is one of the major issues that face us and we are fortunate to have a regional airline such as Rex that provides a quality service to our area.
Your journey has been well documented with the establishment in 2002 during interesting times in our aviation history. The company has been regionally based and obviously is well in tune with the needs of the regional centres of Australia.
In recent years we have had the professional, well equipped service from Townsville to Mount Isa which services the Richmond community.
We wish you all the very best as you celebrate this milestone and look forward to working with you over the next ten years and beyond
What a fantastic milestone for the team at Rex. The success of smaller communities like ours relies on the ability for people to travel to and from larger centres quickly and in comfort, and therefore the work of your airline. We can thank Rex for helping our community to advance its business opportunities, increase its visitation and tourism potential and maintain and increase family connections. Congratulations again and good luck with your continuing success in to the next decade
May I convey my heartiest congratulations to the staff of Rex for reaching a significant milestone of flying for 10 years.
Rex is a big name in the smaller airports, and certainly an airline integral to Mount Isa’s connection to neighbouring towns.
The birth of Rex was a result of the collapse of Ansett, and this venture 10 years ago shows the remarkable ability of your organisation to adapt to circumstances and recognise new opportunities in the business of aviation.
I personally thank Rex for its contribution to Mount Isa, and I wish Rex many more years of flying in the skies.
On behalf of the McKinlay Shire I would like to extend our congratulations for ten years of successful flying. McKinlay Shire is situated in North West Queensland on the major road link the Flinders Hiway stretching from Townsville to Mt Isa. The airline, which began services to Julia Creek in 2009, has provided a successful and extremely reliable service. Residents of the Shire “live” some of the best lifestyles in the country however distance becomes an important factor for current and future growth. A reliable link to major coastal centres allowing connections to major Australian cities makes the distance seem insignificant in relation to operating a business not to mention keeping valuable family and friendship connections. We look forward to a prosperous future in the North West of which Rex will play a vital part.
Congratulations to Rex on celebrating 10 years of service to regional areas. Being born into turbulent times in the airline industry, when other carriers were going under, it is a tribute to your company’s management in selecting suitable destinations and the right aircraft to succeed. Without Rex many small remote communities would not have any air services. Longreach residents are very fortunate to have Rex providing two return flights per week to Townsville in North Queensland. The only other services available go to Brisbane. A decade of service shows you have a proven track record, may you have many more years of serving regional communities.
On behalf of the King Island community, I wish to sincerely congratulate Regional Express Airlines on attaining the ten year milestone of operations.
In the current difficult economic climate with a high Australian dollar, high fuel prices and the uncertainty caused by the introduction of the Carbon Tax, you have succeeded where a number of other airlines have failed.
It is of great benefit to our population to be able to fly to a major airport such as Tullamarine, and be able to connect easily with overseas and interstate flights.
Your friendly and helpful ground staff, pilots and cabin crew, coupled with your reliable service, is a great help to our tourism industry, and makes it a pleasure for everybody to fly Rex.
I would like to congratulate Rex on reaching the milestone of 10 years of flying. Rex is the sole commercial airline that operates from our regional Burnie Airport in the North-West of Tasmania and provides a vital service to our community. Rex provides on average up to four flights a day from Melbourne to Burnie direct and is so important to many service providers who depend on Rex daily. Many health professionals and other specialists fly in and out of Tasmania, to provide vital services to our rural areas. This is only possible by having this service. Congratulations on your ten years of flying and from the community in Burnie we wish you all the best for the next ten years.
I would like to congratulate Regional Express (Rex) on the important milestone of its tenth anniversary.
Regional aviation makes a vital contribution to Australia’s social and economic structure. Rex obviously plays an important role in bringing airline services to many different parts of regional Australia. At the same time all regional airlines face sets of unique safety challenges that are part of Australia’s diverse climate and flying conditions. It is important that as the aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) fully understands those challenges to help us ensure that all regional airlines continue to operate safely in many different environments. When, as Director of Aviation Safety, I created the Regional Aviation Safety Forum in May 2012, I was concerned that issues facing aviation in regional Australia (that is those areas outside the major metropolitan areas) were able to be discussed in a frank and open manner. I am pleased to say that Rex has played a very valuable part as an active member of this industry forum in the past two years, particularly in regard to discussions about operations at regional aerodromes. I am very appreciative of the continued contribution of Rex and other regional operators to these safety discussions, which is part of the open and productive relationship CASA has developed with the aviation industry.
On behalf of CASA I would like to wish Rex continued safe flying into the future
On behalf of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), I congratulate Regional Express – or Rex as we all know it – on 10 years of safe aviation.
As Australia’s national transport safety investigator, we work closely with Australia’s airlines and operators—such as Rex—to help improve the safety system of Australian aviation.
Rex should be proud of its 10-year anniversary. Rex has played a vital role in safely connecting regional and metropolitan Australia. The past years have allowed the ATSB and Rex to develop a strong working relationship to identify safety issues and ultimately make flying safer for industry and the travelling public.
I wish Regional Express a successful and safe future of flying. The ATSB looks forward to continuing and strengthening our working relationship with Rex to advance aviation safety in Australia.
On behalf of Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) I congratulate Rex on reaching an important milestone. Rex has demonstrated great vision and foresight in resurrecting the regional components of the former Ansett operations and growing them into a successful business in the tough aviation market. As the major intrastate carrier in South Australia, Rex provides a vital link between Adelaide and our regional communities across eight destinations, from Coober Pedy and Whyalla down to Kingscote and Mt Gambier, west to Ceduna and Port Lincoln, and across the border to Broken Hill and Mildura. The company has built its reputation and expanded its reach in times of great uncertainty through economic downturns, droughts, floods and global security threats. The journey’s only just begun. Adelaide Airport Limited looks forward to working with Rex for many more years to come as we both continue to grow and offer our customers an even better level of service.
Our warmest congratulations on the tenth anniversary of Regional Express. It’s hard to believe it was just 10 years ago that a group of committed investors saw the potential in keeping Ansett’s regional aviation business in operation. Today, Rex is one of Australia’s most recognisable airline brands, flying more than 1.2 million passengers a year to 35 destinations across the eastern states and operating the nation’s largest independent aircraft fleet. Regional aviation is vital to our economy and we recognise that regional passengers want to continue flying into Australia’s international gateway. Regional airlines have ensured ongoing access to Sydney Airport, but our support for regional aviation is not limited to that. Under our new vision to reconfigure the airport, regional passengers will have better connectivity than ever to domestic and international services and a more seamless passenger experience. Congratulations again on your fantastic achievement and we look forward to working with you on growing your business in the decades to come.
On behalf of Melbourne Airport, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Rex on its tenth anniversary. This is a significant milestone in a highly competitive and challenging industry, and demonstrates the ongoing success of Rex in providing aviation services for regional Australia. As a long-standing and valued member of the Melbourne Airport community, Rex helps to keep our diverse and vibrant regional communities connected with the rest of Australia and the world. Rex passengers from Burnie to Broken Hill and Mount Gambier to Moruya are only a few steps from an extensive range of domestic and international services when they arrive at Melbourne. Similarly, Rex ensures that our capital cities continue to have strong aviation links with regional Australia, enabling the growth of business, education, tourism and other industries. Congratulations to all the team at Rex on turning ten, and we look forward to continuing to support your future growth and success.
It is a great achievement that Rex celebrates its 10th birthday. Any business that is able to not only exhibit longevity, but also to be recognised internationally for the highest standards of operation should be celebrated. But to do this in an industry as challenging as aviation reflects the innovation, discipline and leadership of the company.
The partnership between Mildura Airport and Rex has been a great journey with a wonderful future. The vision and courage by Rex to expand services through Mildura Airport recently is appreciated enormously by our region.
On behalf of the board of Mildura Airport we extend our congratulations to Executive Chairman, Lim Kim Hai and the whole Rex team.
Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) and its subsidiary companies, Townsville, Mount Isa, Longreach and Aviex (MRO) are proud to contribute to the 10th anniversary celebration of Regional Express (Rex).
The QAL group hold its partnership with Rex in high regard and is fortunate to have worked with people across all facets of Rex’s business. Your level of professionalism and expertise in the regional aviation field should be congratulated. Rex is a great Australian aviation success story. Its role is pivotal in connecting regional Australia to the city. The leadership group of Rex has changed the regional aviation space in terms of operating a successful, sustainable, quality airline recognised throughout the airline world.
The QAL group congratulates Rex on their achievements to date and looks forward to contributing to its future success.
Let me pass on my congratulations to the management and staff of Regional Express on its tenth anniversary. The regional aviation industry is of vital importance to Australia both in providing reliable and safe air services and as a training ground for aircrew and engineers for the broader aviation industry. I have been proud to have had the opportunity to be associated with Rex through one of its predecessor companies, Hazelton, in helping the company to establish its operations at Sydney Airport and more recently through the national air traffic provider. I have watched with interest the development of the company during the past decade including its listing on the stock exchange, the acquisition of a large fleet of Saab aircraft, the establishment of a flight training college in Wagga Wagga and the continuation of the policy of supporting regional communities. Regional aviation is a tough business and to have grown the organisation to the extent that has occurred is a major achievement. My congratulations!
I’m pleased to congratulate Rex on 10 years of operation. While Qantas and Rex are competitors, we share a commitment to serving regional Australia. Regional Australia is home to millions of Australians, large and small businesses and world-class tourism attractions. Aviation plays an essential role in supporting these communities and the economic activity they depend on – almost a unique role in global terms, given Australia’s sheer size and widely dispersed population. By taking on two of Ansett's subsidiaries in 2001, Rex helped maintain Australia's regional aviation network at a challenging time for the industry. To bring together two distinct airlines - each with a rich history - and build an entirely new carrier with a strong brand of its own has been a significant accomplishment. Rex is also making an important contribution to developing aviation skills in Australia through its Wagga Wagga-based pilot academy, and is a big sponsor of regional events and charitable initiatives. Aviation is a 24/7 business, but when anniversaries come round it's important to look back and reflect. I hope everyone at Rex finds time to celebrate the achievements of the past 10 years. Again, on behalf of the Qantas Group, many congratulations.
It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Regional Express on their 10th Anniversary. Rex is exemplary of the enterprising spirit and commitment to efficiency of Singapore. Aviation has been afflicted by many natural and man-made challenges in the last 10 years. Rex is a stand out as a successful stand-alone regional airline as it not only survived but managed to grow despite the devastating drought and floods of 2008 and 2011 as well as the GFC and the current global economic uncertainty. Australia has benefitted from an efficient and reliable regional airline like Rex. I wish Rex and its staff many happy returns on its birthday with many more to come.
Congratulations to Regional Express (REX) on its 10th anniversary. Rex has made great strides as an airline group since its formation in 2002, through the amalgamation of Hazelton and Kendell Airlines. The tenacity of its management and staff has not only seen Rex survive its early years, but enabled it to grow into a strong business that plays an important role in Australian aviation, serving regional communities.
The efforts of the staff at Rex in building a quality operation deserve recognition. Their “can do” attitude is what makes all the difference. It is the same determination and spirit that we have seen in our team in Tiger Airways Australia, as they strive to build a sustainable business, focused on delivering reliable, punctual, friendly and affordable air travel to consumers, after a major setback last year.
On behalf of the Tiger Airways team, I salute our counterparts in Rex for the fantastic job they have done in bringing their company this far in only ten years.
May we wish Rex another ten good years ahead.
For all of us at Saab, working with Regional Express (Rex) and its predecessors has been a great pleasure. Kendell Airlines was one of the early launch customers in 1984 as it correctly identified the new 30-seat Saab 340 as an ideal aircraft for regional routes in Australia. This was followed by Hazelton Airlines which also choose the Saab 340 in 1990. The legacy of these two carriers continued on in Rex. Looking around the globe today, many airlines are in turmoil, the market is in constant change. Outside factors create constant new challenges. Rex has weathered these by staying focused on its core business. This is evidenced by the many industry awards bestowed upon Rex including the prestigious ATW Regional Airline of the World award. As Rex celebrates its tenth anniversary, all of us at Saab salute the Executive Chairman Lim Kim Hai, its management and staff for a job well done, you all should be proud of this achievement. Rex has become a strong brand throughout the industry, symbolising dedication and sound business judgment whilst creating a good working environment and returns to its shareholders. All necessary factors for a stable business entity, ready to weather future challenges.
I would like to congratulate Regional Express on reaching ten years of service in Australia. Rex has grown considerably over the past decade and has played an important role in supporting regional Australia during that time. The airline should be commended for the way it has partnered with regional communities to support marginal routes, bringing the benefits of air travel to remote parts of Australia. At Virgin Australia, we believe competition is vital to a successful aviation industry and Rex has made a significant contribution in this respect. We support the airline’s commitment to keeping fares affordable for Australians by challenging monopoly routes. Rex has also contributed a great deal to regional communities through supporting local charities and investing in programs to train Australian pilots, which is very important for the future of our industry. Rex should be very proud of its achievements over the past decade and I wish the team all the best for the decade ahead.
The Board and all members of the RAAA wish to sincerely congratulate Rex on its tenth anniversary. Rex is making an outstanding contribution to regional Australia and remains Australia’s largest independent regional carrier. As well as its high quality RPT network Rex also has established a state of the art flight training facility at Wagga Wagga Airport. Students are supported during their training through Rex’s innovative cadet scheme, a model which is considered one of the best in the industry. Over the past ten years, Rex has been at the cutting edge of aviation policy and regulation development. Many of the technological and operational improvements in regional aviation in recent years have become reality, because of Rex’s commitment to engaging closely with government and industry leaders. If you speak to the people of regional Australia there is no doubt in the faith they have in Rex’s services. The aircraft and crews are considered first-rate and an essential part of Australia’s regional infrastructure. There is no doubt that Rex will remain at the forefront of regional aviation for many years to come and is to be applauded soundly for its exemplary commitment to regional Australia.
With the dilemma of Hazelton’s losing control of the public company, we were concerned as the company was losing money due to the board and management making poor decisions, with little respect by management of employees that we had the greatest respect for with Hazelton’s. When Ansett made a request for the Hazelton shares we were pleased at the opportunity to accept as we were very unhappy with the way the company was operating. We were delighted to learn that after the collapse of Ansett that a Singaporean had purchased Hazelton and Kendell and both companies would continue to service the country people that we serviced for many years. The Hazelton family was delighted and we know Mrs Kendell and family would have been the same. Regional Express invited Laurel and us to be ambassadors for Rex. We were delighted to be given the invitation and accepted, as we considered it to be a great honour to be ambassadors for Rex. We have been invited to attend the Rex quarterly and end of financial year results meetings, after which we are treated like royalty by management and staff. We are very grateful and proud to be associated with Rex. Rex has been a top performing company for a number of years with on-time performance, reliability and financially viable trading against difficult conditions, such as high fuel costs, a big loss of pilots to major airlines and delays due to weather (including fog and low cloud) in a lot of areas they operate in. Rex is a true country airline and has given a great deal to people in need such as in times of floods and fires, when assistance was required. To management and staff, congratulations for your 10 year anniversary.
After being associated with aviation in Regional Australia for 35 years, my family and I were dismayed to see the operations of Kendell Airlines suspended as part of the collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001. Having known the Hazelton family for almost as long, we knew that they too would be very distressed to see the airline they had built also grounded. Our primary concerns were for the people of Regional Australia; those who relied upon regional air services to link them to the capital cities, and those employees and their families who had provided many years of loyal service. Fortunately the strength and spirit of these people was recognised and from these two airlines, Regional Express or Rex was formed. I applaud Rex for their ongoing commitment to regional communities. Whereas some other airlines serve a number of regional routes, their operations and workforce are located in the capital cities. Rex has expanded their major maintenance base in Wagga Wagga, located their reservations centre in Orange, and also constructed a world class pilot training facility in Wagga Wagga. Rex identifies with regional communities, remain committed to them, and deserve the ongoing support of regional Australia. I congratulate the management and staff of Regional Express on 10 years of dedicated service, and wish them every success in the years ahead.