Regional airline Rex will cease their 6.30am Broken Hill to Sydney route, effective from Anzac Day, eliminating the option for travellers to arrive in the Harbour City early in the morning, in a blow for businesspeople and tourists alike.
Rex is also cancelling the 6pm nonstop flight in the opposite direction – Sydney to Broken Hill – in a further blow to commuters.
The move has been confirmed by company as part of a raft of minor changes, which will be fully implemented from May 1 by the airline across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland.
“These adjustments are necessitated by the chronic shortage of airline professionals, particularly pilots and engineers, as well as the severe disruption in the supply chain of aircraft and engine parts,” Rex’s General Manager of Network Strategy, Warrick Lodge, said.
Broken Hill City Mayor Tom Kennedy admits he is “concerned” by the developments, but as he understands it, it’s a temporary measure brought about by shortages of trained personnel.
“It’s going to have a real detrimental effect on the accessibility of Broken Hill. Those flights are important because they ensure people have an effective way of travelling to and from Broken Hill,” Mr Kennedy told the Truth.
And it’s not just about the cancelled flights – the remaining flights are hardly swift.
From April 25 the earliest locals will be able to depart for Sydney on a Rex flight will be 8.40am. And the earliest they will arrive in Sydney will be 4.30pm, due to stops on-route.
Returning to the Silver City from Sydney is not quite so onerous. The earliest you can get a nonstop flight from Sydney to Broken Hill the following day departs at 1.25pm, arriving at Broken Hill airport at 3.25pm. You can also get a one stop flight at 6.55am that arrives in Broken Hill at 9.40am.
Outside of these flight times however, the journey from Sydney to Broken Hill is more difficult with similar two stop eight-hour minimum journeys the only options available.
“My understanding is this isn’t something Rex is planning to keep permanently,” says Mayor Kennedy.
“It has to do with a shortage of trained personnel.
“I suppose the profitability of the routes, they will re-establish them as soon as they can. I think Broken Hill City Council has always had a good working relationship with Rex Airlines. They’ve always kept us up to date with what going is going on and I’m sure rectifying this situation will be a priority for Rex too.”
Rex’s Mr Lodge says, “we do understand the impact these adjustments would have on the regional communities affected, as Rex is the lifeline for these communities. We pledge that we will reinstate the services once the situation has stabilised.”
