Rex to rescue for Bamaga travellers
A REGIONAL air service will introduce new return flights in the new year, adding an extra 6000 seats per annum between Cairns and the Northern Peninsula Area.
Regional Express (Rex) announced it will increase the number of Cape York services between Bamaga and Cairns, in the wake of Skytrans exiting the route from January 6.
Rex first commenced servicing the Bamaga and Cairns route in March 2015 following the collapse of Skytrans.
It began with five return services each week and then moved to six return services in September 2016.
From February 10 next year, the airline will increase to eight per week with an ad“I ditional Monday afternoon and Friday morning return service.
This represents a 33 per cent increase in capacity, and approximately 6000 additional seats per annum.
It will also provide the ability to undertake same-day return travel to Bamaga on Mondays and Fridays.
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council mayor Eddie Newman said the move would expand access to critical care services for the region.
“Sustainable and reliable air services are fundamentally important to our community’s prosperity and they are one of the basic foundations on which everything is built,” he said.
supported Rex’s introduction of flights to Cairns and since this time we have developed a relationship of mutual trust and respect to the point where they have responded quickly to our calls for help following the sudden loss of capacity from another airline.”
Rex’s Cairns-based Queensland state manager Steve Jones said Mr Newman travelled to Sydney to meet with their board in November.
“The positive discussions between Mayor Eddie Newman and the Rex Board have been instrumental in the Rex Board moving quickly to approve the increased number of flights between Bamaga and Cairns in the wake of Skytrans exiting the route,” he said.