Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is encouraging people to still book flights through embattled Rex, assuring that if you don’t fly, you will be refunded. Photo: Rex Media Centre.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is urging regional frequent flyers to stick with Rex despite the airline going into voluntary administration in late July.
In a statement, he assured passengers who booked with Rex they would be refunded should their flights be cancelled.
“The Federal Government is underwriting tickets on Regional Express Airlines. That means you fly or you get a refund,” Mr McCormack said.
“Rex is working through turbulent financial times. But blue skies are ahead. Hopefully, the airline will get its books balanced, find a buyer and continue to be the great carrier it has been for more than two decades, serving rural and remote Australia.
“In the meantime, everyone can help Rex and, moreover, the country communities the airline serves, by making Rex your first choice when travelling. By flying Rex, you’ll be ensuring regional Australia continues to have an airline the heart of which is truly in the country.”
Mr McCormack highlighted Rex’s importance for regional Australia and said ensuring the airline remained available was a matter of life and death.
“This will ensure rural centres, which are serviced only by Rex, can continue to have an airline to take residents to life-saving medical appointments in capital cities and have doctors and other health professionals visit their towns,” he said.
“So when you are flying and Rex is an option on your journey, please fly Rex. Because if we don’t use it, we will lose it. And we cannot afford that.
”We certainly won’t be able to afford it if Rex is grounded permanently and those communities fortunate to have one airline (some will have none at all) will be at the mercy of whatever the only remaining airline chooses to charge.”
Mr McCormack said those planning to fly shouldn’t be worried about booking with Rex despite the adverse publicity in recent weeks.
“You need not worry. You will fly or your Rex ticket will be fully refunded. It is as simple as that,” he said.
”This is not about promoting a business. It is about retaining and ensuring a valuable service – one we as regional people cannot do without.
”For the sake of regional communities and the hundreds and hundreds of friendly, hard-working Rex employees, please put Rex first and ensure this wonderful regional airline, which has been so good and so vital to the regions for so long, has a future.”
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