The regional airline Regional Express (REX) announced yesterday that five services, including its Lismore service, would cease once government support through the RANS program is discontinued at the end of March.
Lismore City Council has asked the company to reconsider its decision to cease flights between Lismore and Sydney, and requested federal and state members of parliament to assist in lobbying REX to reinstate the flights.
Lismore City Mayor Vanessa Ekins said Lismore and REX have had a strong and mutually beneficial relationship over the last twenty years that the airline has serviced the community.
Lismore waived airport fees during COVID
‘As a measure of goodwill, Lismore City Council waived airport fees during COVID to support the airline through this challenging time for the entire aviation industry,’ said Mayor Ekins.
‘The reinstatement of flights is particularly important now as REX’s new routes linking capital cities provides an opportunity for the Lismore community to link their flight to Sydney with connecting flights to other cities.
‘This will benefit both REX and our community.
‘Although passenger numbers traveling to and from Lismore have decreased over time due to the expansion of Ballina Airport, numbers in recent years have stabilised and the new route through Grafton has good patronage.
‘Most Lismore passengers come from the Lismore region and areas to the west of Lismore, and prefer to fly out of Lismore rather than Ballina,’ said Cr Ekins.
Direct flights are important to Lismore economy
Mayor Ekins went on to say that direct flights to and from Sydney are very important to the Lismore economy.
‘Lismore hosts Southern Cross University, Lismore Base Hospital, regional law courts, regional sports facilities, large events, the tourist hotspot of Nimbin and a significant number of businesses that rely on the airport to stay connected,’ said Mayor Ekins.
‘The REX passenger flight services also provide jobs for local people such as check-in and baggage handling, cleaning, airport inspectors and refuellers, as well related service jobs,’ she said.
‘The REX flights are also important to get goods in and out or Lismore with a significant volume of freight being transported in the body of the aircraft.
‘We hope that this situation can be resolved soon,’ said Mayor Ekins.
….Something about if there was a working train service…
Why hanging on to Lismore Airport when there is just 30 km away Ballina with it’s airport which provides a much better infrastructure than the country town of Lismore. Another 100 km away from the like to be “world centre” there is Gold Coast airport with even bigger and better infrastructure than Ballina. So why not giving Lismore the flick and let the airport die and being happy about it.
Be a not everyone can get to Ballina, the parking down there is like Pitt Street at lunch hour.
And shouldn’t we be trying to support our own town instead of another.
REX is largely Singaporean owned fronted by ex National Party politician Joh Sharpe when the hand went out for government support.
They are hoping to join Virgin and Qantas as national carriers.
They owe the regions which have gone out their way to support them.
Space for another genuine regional operator?
“REX largely Singaporean owned…” and the point being? Plenty of support went out to QANTAS as well and look how they repaid their Aussie workforce!
I was (past twice) using Rex air then ceased and commenced with Jetstar. We preferred to land in Lismore but Jetstar flying into Ballina was repeatedly significantly cheaper. Rex has no idea has to price flights and would even prefer to fly with many empty seats rather then lower their price. Staggers the imagination. Rex caused their own demise with exceptional poor management