Rex Receives Ninth Boeing 737-800 To Expand Domestic Network

In the same week that Rex retained its title as Australia’s most reliable airline, it added more firepower to its growing fleet of Boeing 737s. Last month, Rex added its eighth domestic jet, and on Friday, it welcomed home the ninth, which arrived in Brisbane after a relatively short ferry flight from Singapore.

Photo: Rex

This extra narrowbody supports Rex’s domestic expansion, and its arrival is just in time for the launch of the new route between Adelaide and Brisbane, which begins on October 30. Adding two Boeing 737s in the space of a month gives Rex the capacity to operate ten domestic jet routes connecting capital cities and holiday destinations across five Australian states.

It comes from a good home

The latest Boeing 737-800, registration VH-8JS and MSN 44218, was first delivered to Singapore Airlines subsidiary SilkAir in 2014 and later transferred to the Singapore Airlines fleet in 2021. It was placed into storage in 2022 and recently underwent a thorough heavy maintenance check and repainting in the distinctive Rex livery. The 737 departed Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) on September 22 at 12:24, and after a 7:38 hour flight touched down at Brisbane Airport (BNE) at 22:02.

Rex is carving out a productive and loyal niche in the Australian domestic market and intends to keep expanding the network to connect every state and territory capital city while increasing frequencies as demand builds. The airline has already said that means more jets, and today it confirmed it is looking to add two more Boeing 737-800s by the end of June next year. Rex configures its domestic jets in a two-class layout of 176 seats, with eight in business class and 168 in economy, which includes extra legroom Rextra seats at the rear of business class.

Making adjustments to the regional network

As well as its Boeing 737s, Rex has a fleet of 58 Saab 340 turboprops flying to 57 rural and regional destinations across Australia. It is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline and traces its roots deeply into connecting communities in all states of the country for many decades.

Photo: Steve Worner I Shutterstock.

On Friday, Rex announced it will be adjusting its regional network to ensure it maintains the integrity of its operations amid a shortage of pilots. To quote Rex:

“The airline is forced to make further reductions to its regional network as the major carriers, particularly the Qantas Group, continue their relentless pillaging of Rex’s pilot group.”

Rex has its own pilot training operation, the Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA), which has campuses in New South Wales and Victoria. The campuses regularly train pilots from overseas airlines and hold certifications from multiple aviation regulators, including from Australia, Vietnam, Singapore, China and the Gulf States. Rex also trains many Australian cadet pilots to graduate with a Commercial Pilot Licence, Multi-Engine Rating, Instrument Rating and other qualifications.

Photo: Michael Doran I Simple Flying

Many of the graduates become pilots with Rex but others go on and enter other sectors of the Australian aviation industry. As this shows, Rex is certainly punching above its weight when it comes to training and adding Australian pilots to the pool. However, it is finding it hard to keep up with the number of experienced pilots poached by the larger competitors.

The regional service adjustments will take effect from October 30, and all details are on the Rex website. The main routes affected are between Sydney and Albury, Coffs Harbour, Griffith, Narrandera, Orange, Parkes and Port Macquarie. Rex said it is reducing services so passengers can be assured of fewer disruptions and more reliable services, and it aims to restore the full flight schedules from the end of March 2024.