Rex cuts flights; can't find enough pilots

Oops. Upwardly mobile Australian airline Rex is cutting its flights on nine regional routes across four states from May 1, citing a "chronic" shortage of pilots.

Among the destinations affected by the schedule changes will be Cairns, remote Bamaga, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga and Mount Gambier.

As well as the pilot shortage, Rex says it is also suffering from a lack of engineers and aircraft parts shortages that are affecting its fleet of Saab 340 turboprop planes, Travel Mole reports.

“These adjustments are necessitated by the chronic shortage of airline professionals, particularly pilots and engineers,” said Warrick Lodge, Rex GM of network strategy. .

“We pledge to reinstate the services once the situation has stabilised.”

The Mildura-Adelaide service will be grounded completely while another four routes will see new schedules.