A “devastated” and “heartbroken” Rex Airlines flight attendent has responded to passengers complaining of cancelled flights after the carrier entered voluntary administration.
Following the decision, its 350 staff were made redundant and told they would not be paid any wages or redundancy packages for months.
Responding to a Facebook post from a customer complaining her flights had been cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, with customers forced into lengthy hold times while rebooking flights, air hostess Layla Rackley issued a sobering reality check.
“I know this is so frustrating but the Rex staff, including myself, have lost our jobs very unexpectedly and we are all heartbroken,” she said, responding to a post.
“I hope your flights get sorted.”
Adminstrator Sam Freeman said regional flights were unaffected and would continue to operate, but domestic 737 serivces were grounded.
“Virgin Australia are offering impacted Rex passengers free of charge rebooking,” he said.
Ernst & Young administrator Justin Walsh told the ABC the business was simply not viable, and that administrators had formed the view that the airline was not in a position to pay the wages of its employees moving forward.
“Put simply, I guess the company is unable to meet the costs that it will need to incur to keep operating,” he said.
“With the business not operating and unlikely, almost certainly, not able to recommence operations in the future, it’s unfortunately the administrators view that the position of each of the staff of the company on this call needs to become redundant.
“The simple fact that I have access to insufficient funds to pay your wages, leaves the administrators with no choice but to conduct that consultation process over a very short period.”
Flight attendant Makayla Meagher said on social media that she was “devastated” and it was something she thought would never have happened.
“Im so grateful for all the friends i have made along the way,” she said.
“Please keep Rex staff in your prayers.”