On the 30th July 2024, Regional Express (Rex) announced it was entering voluntary administration, following a trading halt from Monday 29 July.
It has subsequently grounded its Boeing 737 fleet, leading to the cancellation of flights between major airports, including between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast. The cancellation of 737 flights on trunk routes is effective immediately from 31 July 2024.
Regional Saab 340 flights are currently unaffected by the administration and will continue to operate. Prepaid ticket holders will continue to have their tickets honoured by Rex on regional routes. The airline will continue its long and proud history of servicing regional and remote communities across Australia.
Following the news, Virgin Australia has made an offer to accommodate travellers, free of charge, who have had a ticket cancelled due to the Administration process. The airline will transfer tickets to be re-accommodated on a flight as close as practicable to their original time of travel.
Routes available for free of charge re-booking with Virgin Australia include:
- Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Adelaide
- Melbourne to Brisbane, Hobart, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast and Adelaide
- Adelaide to Brisbane, Perth
- Brisbane to Cairns
Eligible Rex customers who wish to take up Virgin Australia’s rebooking offer, must fill out the form here by Wednesday 14 August 2024, and Virgin Australia will rebook you within 72 hours with the most suitable itinerary and email you a confirmation.
If you are travelling in the next 48 hours, please contact the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 to rebook your travel.
Travellers with bookings made via the University’s Travel Management Company, FCM, will be contacted with information about bookings.
Travellers who have not booked via FCM will need to follow the process above or contact the travel supplier who assisted with their bookings.
Holders of affected tickets are being advised not to go to the airport until their flight has been rebooked via these channels.
UQ travellers who are able to rebook with Virgin Australia are recommended to do so. While UQ travellers who incur reasonable and necessary cancellation and disruption expenses as a result of these circumstances can submit an insurance claim for consideration by UQ’s travel insurer, under the terms and conditions of the policy it is expected that any losses due to the failure of Rex to provide booked services by reason of its financial default may not be covered.
