Rex flights from Mildura to Melbourne and Adelaide secured

REX has secured funding to run a pair of weekly return services between Mildura Airport and both Melbourne and Adelaide.

The airline said the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Regional Airline Network Support program, announced on Tuesday, would enable the flights.

Designed to provide assistance to regional airlines to maintain a minimal weekly schedule, the support program had been approved for six weeks initially and Rex said it could provide funds for up to six months.

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said the funds would maintain air links to capital cities for regional Australians to access medical, professional and other essential travel needs.

“Without this intervention, many smaller regional communities would risk not having any air services at all for at least six months,” Mr Sharp said.

As of noon Wednesday, there were no Mildura-Adelaide services listed on the Rex website for next week, however two Melbourne flights, on Monday and Friday, were advertised.

Airlines continue to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel.

Virgin Australia halted most of its services, including Mildura flights, before going into voluntary administration last week.

Qantas was advertising two Mildura to Melbourne flights for next week, taking off on Tuesday and Thursday.