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Rex is finally opening up Western Australia to its domestic jet operations, with a new Melbourne–Perth route to start next month.
The service, operating five days per week from 28 June, will use Rex’s 737-800 fleet, adding around 90,000 seats to the city pair per year. It will be Rex’s eleventh domestic jet route, with other destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and the Gold Coast.
Fares will start from $299 economy and $999 business one-way, with checked baggage included.
“When more airlines compete on a particular route, consumers benefit and our record in the domestic markets speaks for itself – Rex delivers terrific value for money,” Rex’s general manager of network strategy, Warrick Lodge, said.
“Rex consistently outshines its domestic rivals in on-time performance and cancellation rates, and when travellers are booking a route of this distance and duration, reliability is paramount.
“Our competitors cancelled 57 flights in total on this route in the first four months of 2024, while their combined on-time arrival and departure performance was only around 72 per cent.”
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus has welcomed the route, saying it will offer more choice for consumers travelling from coast to coast.
“Having a third airline group flying between Perth and Melbourne will increase competition and allow more people to reconnect with family and friends or explore Victoria’s fantastic tourism offering,” Argus said.
The Melbourne service will be Rex’s first interstate route from Perth, with the airline already operating regional flights within Western Australia using its Saab 340B fleet, as well as FIFO services through its subsidiary National Jet Express.
Perth Airport’s chief commercial and aviation officer, Kate Holsgrove, said the service – timed to start alongside the school holidays – will be good news for Perth travellers.
“Currently Rex operates four successful regional services within Western Australia. The introduction of Rex’s first interstate routes from our Terminal 2 is a sure sign of their confidence in the Perth market,” Holsgrove said.
“This gives Western Australians more options for travel and we look forward to working with the Rex Airlines team to ensure the new routes are successful.”
According to Rex, another domestic route is set to be announced in the coming days. The airline currently operates 10 737-800s, with the tenth, VH-8ZL, having arrived in December.
