Rex - Regional Express (ZL, Wagga Wagga) has been named the preferred tenderer for two Western Australian government-regulated routes – Perth International-Esperance and Perth-Albany, WA.

The carrier says that subject to final negotiations, it will enter into a contract with the Department of Transport to operate the routes for the next five-year licence period commencing February 28, 2016. Further inofrmation will only be disclosed as and when the contract is finalised.

According to the ch-aviation route database, the routes are currently operated by Virgin Australia Regional (VA, Perth International). However, with the impending phase-out of its Fokker 50 fleet, Virgin Regional will suspend both services with the end of its government contract on February 27, 2016.

Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of forty-eight Saab 340Bs on some 1,400 weekly flights to 54 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.

The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation (PFY, Sydney Kingsford Smith), regional airline Air Link (LZ, Dubbo), as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.