Regional Express Airlines (REX) has announced that it “will cease all services to Grafton with effect from 3 July 2020”.
The announcement came unexpectedly, following councillors agreeing to REX’s request for a 50 per cent cut in head tax charges for the months of February and March 2020 at the May CVC meeting, which amounted to offering an $8,908 rebate.
Prior to that at the March CVC meeting, councillors had unanimously supported giving REX 100 per cent relief from head tax charges from April 1 to December 31, 2020, despite REX only asking for a 50 per cent cut.
REX’s announcement was contained in a curt letter, which focussed on words spoken by Cr Deborah Novak, who opposed the May decision; Cr Greg Clancy was the only other councillor who opposed the May decision; both councillors supported the 100 per cent rebate granted at the March meeting.
The letter from REX, dated June 4, states (in full): “On behalf of Rex, I would like to thank the Clarence Valley Council for offering Rex a rebate of $8,908.00.
“Please note however that, given the hostility of the Councillors in relation to this matter, and following the call for Rex to ‘pull their finger out’, Rex will reject council’s offer.
“Full settlement has already been made last week.
“Please also be aware that Rex will cease all services to Grafton with effect from 3 July 2020.”
Mayor Jim Simmons said REX’s decision was “very disappointing” and that the letter was “heavy-handed”.
“The person from REX who sent the letter [David Brooksby, National Airports Manager] is incorrect; he has wrongly accused councillors of being anti REX,” he said.
Cr Simmons declined any further comment until the issue is discussed with senior CVC staff.
Acting general manager, Des Schroder, said general manager Ashley Lindsay, who is on leave, “is in the process of contacting the airline”.
“We are disappointed but will endeavour to work with them [REX] to try and continue the service,” Mr Schroder said.
Meanwhile, the Independent is aware that at least three councillors have written to REX expressing their dissatisfaction with the airline’s reaction and they were particularly aggrieved by the allegation that they were “hostile” towards the airline.
A REX response to those councillors “acknowledges that not all councillors share the hostility [and] we would like to put on record, our thanks for those who support us.”
Nonetheless, the response asserted that “the council will have to take collective responsibility for publicly impugning the fine reputation of Rex and will need to answer to its constituents for its actions and decisions”.
The Independent is also aware that one councillor has demanded a retraction.
The two councillors who opposed offering REX a rebate of $8,908 are not among these councillors.
Confusingly, a REX media release on April 29 announced that “Regional Express (Rex) is pleased to, today, announce the confirmation of additional regional services funded by both federal and state governments.
“In total, Rex will now be operating 88 weekly return services under the various funding arrangements.”
An appendix attached to the media release states that the Grafton/Lismore combined service, which currently runs three flights to and from Sydney a week, lists that route in a column titled, “Approved Commonwealth Funded Weekly Return Services”.