ATIA Leader Applauds Australian Government’s Takeover of Rex Airlines Debt

The CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association, Dean Long, made a statement about the Australian Federal Government’s recent acquisition of AU$50 million of Rex Airlines’ debt.

Long praised the acquisition as a critical step towards ensuring the future of a competitive domestic airline sector in Australia.

In a statement released on January 23, he mentioned:

“We welcome the announcement that the Federal Government has taken this step to become the principal secured creditor of Rex. It’s great news for travelling Australians, the communities who rely on Rex, and the health of the Australian Aviation sector. Rex is too important to be allowed to fail.”

He emphasized that Australia’s domestic aviation sector requires a third airline, stating that if Rex fails, it would significantly delay the entrance of another competitor into the market, adversely affecting regional and rural areas and travellers’ finances.

Long concluded by saying:

“Ensuring the future of a third airline in Australia means we have competition in the skies as well as access for regional and rural Australia.”