Rex adds Hobart-Melbourne flights to its growing network

Regional Express is taking another step towards a national jet network with direct flights between Hobart and Melbourne starting from today.

The daily Boeing 737 flights depart Melbourne at 12.15pm, reaching Hobart at 1.30pm; the return takes off from Hobart at 2.15pm, touching down in Melbourne at 3.30pm.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter says the schedule “gives more choice for travellers flying between Melbourne and Hobart, and provides an additional mid-afternoon schedule option arriving into Melbourne in time for dinner.”

Rex already flies its regional Saab aircraft to the north-west Tasmanian cities of Burnie and Devonport as well as King Island.

“Hobart is one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations which we are delighted to add to our network,” Sharp says.

“Our long-standing commitment to Tasmania spans more than 40 years through our regional airline services. For too long, Hobart has had to endure sky-high airfares because of capacity constraints and price gouging by our competitors.”

Rex welcomed its eighth Boeing 737 last month, with another on the way to help bolster its steadily-growing network in mid-September.

The country challenger added Sydney-Adelaide to its Boeing 737 jet service back in June, with Deputy Chairman John Sharp stating that each new route “brings us one step closer to our ambition to fly between every capital city in Australia.”