Rex to flood Sydney - Melbourne route with seats

SYDNEY - Sydney - Melbourne: Regional Express (REX) extends a challenge to Qantas and Virgin Autralia on one of the continents most frequented routes.

Rex will phase in six Boeing 737-800 - the airline`s first jets - from March 1st on its new Sydney - Melbourne service. Rex sourced the jets from the shrinking operation of Virgin Australia in a strategic shake-up that caught competitors by surprise.

Rex is looking to fill seats with connecting passengers from its regional network. "Let’s say you're flying from Dubbo to Melbourne," Rex deputy chairman John Sharp told "Executive Traveller". "You fly the first sector with Rex to Sydney, and then you get onto a flight to Melbourne."