Corporate Traveller’s partnership with Rex Airlines delivers more value to SMEs
In yet another move to demonstrate our commitment to the Australian SME sector, Corporate Traveller has partnered with Rex Airlines, Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline.
The new partnership will give Corporate Traveller’s customers access to exclusive SME business travel fares, new corporate travel offers and easy access to a national carrier that’s dedicated to servicing regional and high-demand inter-city routes, such as the Golden Triangle, as well as Australia’s domestic fly-in fly-out (FIFO) market.
With its head office in Sydney and a domestic network including 58 destinations predominantly across the north and south-east of Australia and south-west into the key hubs of Western Australia, Rex Airlines is fast becoming an alternative choice for business travellers.
Recently the carrier was named ‘Airline of the Year’ at the Australian Aviation Awards.
In July 2022, the airline announced the acquisition of National Jet Express (NJE), the regional services arm of Cobham Aviation Services Australia (Cobham). NJE is a leading provider of FIFO services in Western Australia and South Australia. NJE also operates freight services from Sydney to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast (Coolangatta), as well as air charter services in Papua New Guinea.
Rex operates a fleet of 61 Saab 340 and seven Boeing 737-800NG aircraft. Following the acquisition of NJE, the airline will add eight Bombardier Q400 turboprops and six Embraer E190 jets to its fleet. The Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator), the Australian Airline Pilot Academy with campuses in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat, and propeller maintenance organisation, Australian Aerospace Propeller Maintenance.
Corporate Traveller’s Global Managing Director, Tom Walley said the partnership with Rex was a new and exciting development for SME business travel.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Rex as a new addition to what’s already on offer in the national airline space for Australian travellers,” Tom said. “Not only will the partnership deliver exclusive benefits for our customers but it will also help SMEs to become more familiar with the products and services Rex offers for destinations that many of our clients are travelling to. News that Rex Airlines is increasing its 737 jet services on peak routes such as the Golden Triangle of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne also will be welcome news for many of our customers.”
General Manager of Sales for Rex Airlines, Ann Elliot, said the airline was excited to partner with Corporate Traveller.
“We’re excited to partner with Corporate Traveller and deliver choice and value to their customers,” Ann said. “We are proud to be supporting SME businesses by creating greater access to both our regional and domestic networks.”
As part of the new partnership Corporate Traveller’s customers have access to specially negotiated SME business airfares through their online booking tool and Travel Consultant.
Rex Airlines’ lounges are in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra airports. A new lounge in Brisbane is expected to open in 2023. In addition, a new lounge is currently under construction in the Sydney airport. This will be the carrier’s flagship lounge, which overlooks expansive views of the airport’s southern runway.
Rex Airlines is also putting the finishing touches on a new loyalty program for its frequent flyers.
Ann said the carrier had a raft of new initiatives underway to enhance the customer experience from new lounges and airline partnerships to a new loyalty program and innovative sustainability initiatives.
Rex Airlines at a glance
- Offers more than 160 weekly 737 jet services on the Golden Triangle between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and more than 190 weekly 737 jet services between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
- Over the years, Rex Airlines has flown more than 21 million passengers throughout Australia
- Pre-Covid, Rex was flying 1.4 million passengers annually.
- The airline operates 75,000 annual regular public transport flights.
- The carrier’s legacy involves two regional airlines established almost 70 years ago.
- The two airlines bore the names of two of Australia’s regional aviation pioneers: Hazelton Airlines established in 1953 in the NSW Central West by Max Hazelton; and Kendell Airlines, established in Wagga Wagga in 1965 by Don and Eilish Kendell.