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REX PLANS TO PHASE OUT OLDER SAAB 340A AIRCRAFT
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Regional Express (Rex) today announced the overseas sale of VH-KDI, a Saab 340A aircraft which has seen it ending up with Argentine airline SOL Líneas Aéreas.

With the phased introduction of 25 latest-generation Saab 340B plus aircraft into the fleet, Rex is phasing out all eight of its first generation Saab 340A aircraft.

Rex had earlier announced in July 2008 the sale of VH-KEQ, a Saab 340A aircraft to Bridges Worldwide Express and has since converted two more of the A-model aircraft into freighters for its wholly owned subsidiary Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd. Rex is also currently in the process of finalising the sale of another two Saab 340A aircraft to a European operator.

Rex Managing Director, Jim Davis commented, “The latest generation Saab 340B plus aircraft with extended wing tips offer an enormous increase in carrying capacity and airfield performance compared to the earlier A-models. They also deliver improvements in passenger comfort, having higher seat backs, larger overhead lockers and a quieter cabin noise that is achieved with an ‘active noise cancellation’ system”.

Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 40 Saab 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 24 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.