Australian Regional Express, better known as REX, has decided to venture into deploying larger aircraft on the domestic market. As a result of this decision the airline signed lease-agreements for six B737-800s. The first is due on 1 November, while the remaining five will join the fleet over the following four months.

As of 1 March next year, REX will start deploying their new jets on the Sydney-Melbourne route, going head-to-head with the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia. By the end of next year they hope to fly more routes and have a total of ten B737-800s in the fleet.

REX was founded in 2002 when a consortium acquired Hazelton Airlines and Kendell Airlines merged them and launched the Regional Express-brand. At this moment the carrier operates a fleet of 44 Saab 340s out of their main bases at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.

The airline is also in discussion with ATR to see if the Saabs can be replaced by ATRs in the future, although no order has been placed for this yet.