Australia’s Rex completes certification to launch jet ops

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has upgraded the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) of Rex – Regional Express (ZL, Wagga Wagga) to include the carrier’s future narrowbody jet operations. The High Capacity Air Operator’s Certificate (HCAOC) permits the airline to launch Regular Public Transport (RPT) services using B737-800 narrowbodies on its existing routes. Rex plans to commence such flights on March 1, 2021, initially between Sydney Kingsford Smith and Melbourne Tullamarine before adding more trunk routes later on. Rex’s previous AOC covered only its turboprop regional services. An upgrade of the certificate to the HCAOC was required to operate aircraft with a maximum seating capacity exceeding 38 seats or maximum payload exceeding 4,200 kilogrammes. The airline has recently added its first ex-Virgin Australia B737-800, VH-VUF (msn 34168), used for demonstration flights between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane Int’l in the second half of November 2020. The 15.7-year-old narrowbody is currently parked at Wagga Wagga airport.