Rex today announced the airline would begin daily direct flights between Adelaide and Brisbane on 30 October with launch fares from $149 one way.
This is the third new route Rex has launched in the last three months and follows the additions of Adelaide-Sydney and Melbourne-Hobart to the domestic network.
It means Adelaide is now connected to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, while Brisbane has direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
“Step by step, our footprint is gradually growing as we continue to spread our wings so we can achieve our goal of flying to, and between, all of our capital cities,” Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said.
The new route, operated by a Boeing 737-800NG, will provide an additional 128,000 seats a year between Adelaide and Brisbane.
At $149, the one-way Economy launch fares, which include a checked baggage allowance of 23 kilos and free on-board refreshments, is almost half the cost of the cheapest daytime Qantas flight at $307. Rex’s Business Class will be available from $449, which is $428 cheaper
than the comparable Qantas fare at $877.
Rex is Australia’s most reliable airline with the best On Time Performance (OTP) for both departures and arrivals. It also has the lowest rate of flight cancellations of any domestic carrier.*
Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Brenton Cox, congratulated Rex on its continuing investment in South Australia and recognising the strength of the Adelaide market.
“Rex has opened a further pipeline for Queenslanders to discover South Australia and once again has created more choice for South Australian travellers heading to Queensland – this is on the back of its recently introduced services to Melbourne and Sydney,” Mr Cox said.
“Adelaide Airport is back to pre-pandemic domestic passenger numbers and climbing so this new service is very timely. Rex has been a great supporter of ours for many years and we look forward to further market expansion in the near future.”
Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Airport Corporation, said: “The Brisbane to Adelaide market has been starved of capacity and is currently sitting at 88% of pre-COVID levels. Today’s announcement by Rex will instantly restore it to 99% capacity which is very welcome news for travellers.
“In 2019, 875,000 people flew between these two cities. We look forward to growing that number for the benefit of the people of Queensland and South Australia.”
Today’s new route announcement caps off a big 24 hours for Rex Airlines and the Rex group of companies. Last night Rex was named Airline of the Year at the prestigious Australian Aviation Awards for 2023 organised in partnership with the University of NSW.
This is the second consecutive year that the airline clinched the award.**
The award was presented at a Gala Dinner in Sydney in front of several hundred guests including many of the industry’s leading lights. It was accepted by Neville Howell, Rex’s Chief Operating Officer.
The Rex Group’s Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) also took home the Flight Training Business of the Year award while Regional Express was acknowledged as the Safety Innovator of the Year.
“These awards have been won on the back of the extraordinary efforts of all our staff who are the most dedicated, hard working and loyal aviation workers in Australia. All the awards were proudly accepted on their behalf,” Mr Howell said.
