Regional Express receives Funding
20 APRIL 2020
http://rex.com.au/MediaAndPressClippings/MediaReleaseList.aspx?Site=MC
REX SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING COMMONWEALTH FUNDING FOR REGIONAL SERVICES
Regional Express (Rex) has today signed a Commonwealth Grant Agreement under the COVID-19 Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) program announced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), the Hon Michael McCormack, on 28 March 2020. Under the program, regional airline carriers will be provided assistance to maintain a minimal weekly schedule to regional and remote ports. The RANS program will provide funding for up to six months with an initial approval for six weeks.
Under the Grant Agreement, Rex will receive funding to operate 1-2 return services a week to most destinations on the Rex network.
Revised guidelines were released late last week, by the Federal Government, with provision to increase the number of funded services for each regional/remote port. Rex has submitted a revised request for funding and if successful, nominated Rex ports will see a minimum of two return services per week with some ports having up to three return services per week. The list of ports and frequency of services in Rex’s application is provided in the Appendix (attached).
Three of the State Governments, being Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, have also committed to funding additional services on top of what the Federal Government package is providing. Details of the additional State supported arrangements will be released once confirmed.
Rex’s Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM said, “All regional and remote communities owe the DPM Michael McCormack and the Morrison Government a great debt of gratitude for providing funding to ensure they continue to receive minimal essential air links to the capital cities for medical, professional and educational needs. Without this intervention, many smaller regional communities would risk not having any air services at all for at least six months.”
“Never before has regional Australia been faced with such a massive and sudden threat. Regional Australia is very fortunate to have a government which places the highest national priority in ensuring the regional socio-economic fabric is not permanently destroyed by this national emergency.”
“Rex would also like to thank, on behalf of all regional carriers, the Morrison Government for extending this lifeline at an incredibly quick speed, without which all independent regional airline carriers would have collapsed in the coming days. By funding a barebones schedule for the next six months, the Federal Government has given all regional airlines a fighting chance to see through this pandemic.”
“With the Commonwealth assistance packages for regional carriers in place, we are confident that we will be able to help all regional cities who are willing to work in partnership with us to rebuild their regional air services to their full potential over the next two years. Rex will stand by all the regional communities that have stood by Rex during this global and national crisis.”
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