Regional flights continue despite Rex axing city trips

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

* Regional Express – commonly known as Rex – went into voluntary administration on Tuesday

* All the airline’s capital-city flights via Boeing 737 were cancelled, although its regional flights on Saab 340 planes continue operating

* Virgin Australia and Qantas are offering affected Rex passengers free re-booking on major routes

* Administrators from EY have forecast a “relatively short” period before they find new financial backing to continue regional flights, but no such option has been flagged for capital-city operations

* Federal government ministers have met with the administration and stressed the importance of the regional flights to Australia’s non-metropolitan residents

* Transport Minister Catherine King says it is vital Rex flights continue when asked if the government will provide financial backing

* About one-third of Rex’s 2000 workers are expected to lose their jobs with capital-city flights canned