Regional Express (Rex) plans to resume regular public transport (RPT) flights between Sydney and Cooma from March 2016 with its 34-seat Saab 340s.
The flights will operate on weekdays, departing Sydney at 0800 and arriving in Cooma at 0905. The return service is scheduled to leave the Snowy Mountains regional centre at 0935 and land back in Sydney capital at 1040, Rex announced on Thursday.
Rex will also add extra flights on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays during the ski season.
The airline said Cooma had been without RPT air services since Brindabella Airlines was placed into receivership in December 2013.
Rex general manager network strategy and sales Warrick Lodge said the flights would be operated in partnership with the Snowy Mountains Airport Corporation (SMAC).
“We look forward to collaborating with SMAC to offer a quality service for the residents of the Snowy Mountains and for the many visitors to the region during both the winter and summer seasons,” Lodge said in a statement.
“We have worked closely with SMAC to design the schedule and determine the seasonal timings of the service and will work with them and local tourism operators and organisations to promote the services.”
Snowy Mountains Airport Corporation chairman Kevin Blyton said it was pleasing to have Rex back on the route, after the airline was forced to drop services to Cooma in response to its pilot shortage in 2007/08.
“Rex delivered a very reliable and safe service in the past and the resumption of regular year round flights to and from Sydney provides an important link for the people of the Snowy Mountains,” Blyton said.
“We look forward to working with Rex in providing the best possible air service to satisfy the needs of both the business and tourism sectors for many years to come.”
