The chat in aviation circles is that the government is expected to take part-ownership of Rex conditional on the airline shrinking back to its regional roots.
The airline has cancelled all flights between major airports after halting its domestic 737 services,prompting Virgin and Qantas to offer free rebooking for Rex customers.
Rex has become the latest to discover just how difficult,if not impossible,it is to crack the Qantas/Virgin duopoly. But all may not be lost.
If the government wants to do better for consumers in a cost-of-living crisis it should talk less and act more and embark on reform of the airline industry that allows competition to flourish.
Hell hath no fury like a delayed economist and the last thing Qantas needed was to annoy one of the nation’s best policy brains. But,yet,they did.
The airline is banking on some of the longest flights in the world to be a hit with passengers,who will have to cough up 20 per cent more for the privilege.
As international airfares continue falling from the highs reached after COVID-19,aviation profits should settle to more normal sustainable levels.
Will they at least be spared carrot sticks in first class?
Qantas is bringing in new Airbus A220s as part of its fleet renewal. They are spacious and well designed – even in the toilets.
“After an overnight flight from Asia,I politely asked before landing what happened to breakfast? I was snapped at in reply.”
Labor minister Patrick Gorman’s zinger about French submarines had Australian diplomats in Paris holding their breath.