Rex Airlines Suspends Sydney Flights to Orange and Port Macquarie

Rex Airlines will suspend flight services between Sydney and Port Macquarie, and Sydney and Orange, effective October 25. The airline announced the suspension to Orange is indefinite, while the Port Macquarie route is temporary. Company officials attributed the move to a lack of passenger demand and high aviation fuel prices driven by conflict in the Middle East, stating they will consider resuming routes once costs become commercially sustainable.

Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee criticized the timing of the announcement, noting it occurs just before an October 24 expiration of a federal government waiver that protected the airline's Sydney Airport flight slots from use-it-or-lose-it rules. Additionally, the Orange City Council recently wrote off nearly $16,000 in unpaid passenger landing fees owed by the airline from early 2024, which the council deemed unrecoverable.

Federal Nationals Member for Lyne Alison Penfold warned that the suspensions leave regional communities isolated and vulnerable to higher airfares. With Rex exiting the Port Macquarie-Sydney route, QantasLink will become the sole operator. Penfold has written to QantasLink seeking assurances that the airline will not increase fares due to its new monopoly position. Rex is offering affected passengers full refunds or re-booking options.