Australia’s airline duopoly won’t keep planes in regional skies

‘A Rex flight is a very “country” experience … you often know half the people on the plane.’ The airline has entered voluntary administration. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

I have been spending a bit of time in a courtroom in Wagga Wagga, watching a murder trial in my local area. In the collegial housekeeping moments between lawyers, there have been more than a few passing remarks about travel arrangements since Rex Airlines entered voluntary administration.

Like many country courtrooms, the judge and some of the bar table are often fly-in-fly-out workers. They join professional contractors, tradies, health workers, public servants and other visitors who make up the 225,000 passengers to come through Wagga airport every year.