Rex airline issues puts regional flight routes at risk

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Meanwhile the cloud over Rex's future has regional WA communities on edge. For many people in Carnarvon, Albany and Esperance the news has come as a shock as Rex is the only airline that provides flights to Perth.

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00:00News of the airline hitting financial turbulence is causing distress in the regions.

00:10For David Gee, a regular flight is essential for his weekly medical treatment.

00:15It will be pretty bad for me. I have to travel every week for health reasons.

00:21For the 63,000 Albany passengers travelling on wrecks to Perth each year, the alternatives

00:27to flying are limited.

00:29There's no other public transport. Buses take 12 hours, there's no train.

00:33The more access we have for visitors and for the local residents means our town will grow

00:38and prosper, so I think it will have a big impact.

00:41Wrecks also provides a lifeline for Carnarvon families whose children go to school in Perth.

00:47When the school holidays are on, the plane that comes up is absolutely chock-a-block

00:51full of school kids.

00:52Last year, Wrecks renewed its service contract for a further five years to fly as a sole

00:58carrier from Carnarvon, Albany and Esperance. It was the only airline to tender for the

01:04sectors after receiving a $3 million grant from the state government in 2020.

01:14We have to wait and see what that impact means for Albany and whether we need the state government

01:19to step up and find a solution for us if there needs to be a solution.

01:24WA Transport Minister Rita Safioti is seeking urgent discussions with her federal counterpart.

01:31Unfortunately there seems to be something very significant that's happening. We're seeking

01:35further clarifications.

01:37Nervous WA communities hoping for the best.

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