Rex: We’re reducing flights as a result of Qantas is poaching our pilots

Rex Airways has accused rivals equivalent to Qantas of “pillaging” its regional pilots, forcing extra cuts to providers between the nation and the town.

The provider issued a press release on Friday afternoon saying it should cut back the variety of providers between Sydney and NSW cities Albury, Coffs Harbour, Griffith, Narrandera, Orange, Parkes and Port Macquarie from October 30.

It’s also quickly suspending flights between Sydney and Armidale and withdrawing its far north Queensland route between Cairns and Bamaga.

“The airline is compelled to make additional reductions to its regional community as the main carriers, notably the Qantas Group, continued their relentless pillaging of Rex’s pilot group,” an organization assertion stated.

Qantas has rejected Rex’s claims, a spokeswoman advised AAP.

Positions vacant: Pilots, a number of them

In April, Rex lowered or modified flight instances for 9 providers throughout 4 states, together with routes between Sydney and Damaged Hill, Melbourne and Wagga Wagga, and Adelaide and Port Lincoln.

If the workforce state of affairs improves, the lowered providers will return to regular operation by the top of March subsequent 12 months.

Rex’s April announcement made no point out of its rivals, as a substitute saying there was a power scarcity of employees and provide chain disruptions.

The affected routes require SAAB 340 twin-engine pilots, who have been in heated pay negotiations with the airline in June final 12 months.

Pilots took protected industrial motion, together with a ban on topping up planes with further gasoline, after prolonged wage negotiations.

On the time Rex was providing a 5.1 per cent enhance, plus catch-up funds, which the Australian Federation of Air Pilots stated amounted to a pay lower because it didn’t cowl inflation.

Rex’s deputy chairman John Sharp stated the negotiations uncovered the “hypocrisy” of the union as a result of it agreed to a two per cent pay rise for QantasLink pilots in 2021 and 2022.

The vast majority of Rex twin-engine pilots agreed to a brand new pay deal in November.

-AAP