Rex Mini Gulf services to continue

It was heralded as a solution to help residents more easily access vital health services in the capital or fly doctors to remote locations.

In total, 3,200 passengers travelled on the additional Saab 340 services during the 10-month trial that concluded last month, with flights due to restart on Monday, 5 February.

The state’s acting head of Translink, Peter Milward, said, “This new initiative is a fantastic solution as the Mini-Gulf flights provide connections to essential services for people in very remote and low-income communities for whom travel is often for essential purposes.”

Mornington Shire Council Mayor Kyle Yanner told The Cairns Post last year the flights would greatly benefit the community.

“I know for a fact that it will definitely help with the Queensland Health as their roster changes, normally the outgoing doctor would fly out in the morning and the incoming one in the afternoon, leaving us without a doctor for five hours every three weeks,” he said.

“So this extra service will change that, and it could save a life.”

The continuation of the services is made possible after the state government committed to investing more than $5 million into the program for another three years.

It comes after Australian Aviation reported last month how Rex Flyer loyalty members can now redeem their points for flights as the airline rolled out the second stage of the program.

Customers have been able to accrue points since the frequent flyer scheme went live in October, and can now cash them in on Rex’s domestic and regional flights across its Australian network. Seats are available at “Anytime”, “Getaway” and “Ultimate” rates, in order from highest to lowest cost.

Future stages in the Rex Flyer rollout will include status benefits for Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond-tier members, slated to become available in February 2024.

“Since the program was launched on 2 October, Rex Flyer members have been earning up to seven points for every dollar spent every time they’ve flown and up to five points for each dollar spent on selected Rex Extras such as additional baggage and seat selection,” the airline said.

“More than 60,000 travellers have become registered Rex Flyer members in the last seven weeks. The program is free to join. Until 2 January every new member receives a 5000-point sign-on bonus, while all bookings before the New Year will earn double reward points regardless of the date of travel.

“The Rex Flyer program sees all unsold seats progressively available at the cheapest reward redemption rate (Ultimate) from 48 hours before a departure.”

Rex Flyer is the third entrant into what is often a cutthroat frequent flyer market, with Velocity and Qantas Frequent Flyer frequently attempting to outdo each other and poach members.