Australia's government on alert to support airline Rex as it hits turbulence
SYDNEY, July 30 (Reuters) -The Australian government said on Tuesday it was standing ready to assist airline Regional Express Holdings REX.AX, which serves rural towns, after a newspaper reported that the company had likely hired external restructuring experts.
Transport Minister Catherine King said the government had contingency plans to ensure airline services continue in rural areas but she did not promise any bailout packages for Rex.
"Rex is a pretty important part of the Australian aviation industry and (we) stand ready to work with them to see whether there's any assistance or anything the government needs to do," King told ABC television.
Bloomberg News, citing unidentified sources, on Tuesday reported Rex was set to appoint Ernst & Young as administrators, and could announce it as soon as Wednesday.
An airlines union said about 2,000 jobs were at risk if Rex collapsed. Rex did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Rex, the only airline that flies into several rural towns, operates in a domestic market dominated by Qantas QAN.AX and Virgin Australia, which together control about 90% of Australia's airline market.
It has accused Qantas of engaging in "price gouging" on domestic routes and of "pillaging" its regional pilots, allegations Qantas has dismissed.
The Australian newspaper in a report late on Friday said Rex had asked Deloitte to go through its books. Rex on Monday suspended trading of its shares pending an announcement.
The trading halt comes three months after budget airline Bonza collapsed, stranding passengers. Its fleet was later repossessed by creditors.
"Aviation is a pretty tough business, and we're seeing that. Obviously we saw that with Bonza folding. We don't want to see Rex fold as well, so we're keeping a fairly close eye on it," King said.
Rex reported a loss before tax of A$2.1 million ($1.37 million) in the first half of financial year 2023/24, down from a A$15.7 million loss in the same period year ago.
($1 = 1.5293 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Renju Jose and Lewis Jackson in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
