Flying in regional Western Australia is always an adventure, but flying during a period of financial uncertainty makes it all the more fascinating. This week on Aussie Jetsetter, I travelled on Australia’s largest operator of the iconic Swedish-built SAAB 340: Rex Airlines, an airline that has spent more than a year in voluntary administration yet continues to serve remote communities with remarkable resilience.
This flight review covers my journey on Rex’s Albany to Perth service, the airline’s shortest Western Australian route. Along the way, I explored one of the quirkiest regional airports in the country, experienced classic “old-school Rex hospitality,” enjoyed stunning views of WA’s agricultural heartland, and discovered a simple hack that allowed me to score a massively discounted airfare.
In a year where Rex’s future hangs in the balance, the question remains: is flying Rex in 2025 a risky mess—or business as usual? Come along for the ride as I put Rex to the test.
A Quiet Morning at Albany Regional Airport
Good morning from Albany Harry Riggs Regional Airport, perched on the beautiful south coast of Western Australia. Despite living in WA for more than three decades, I’d always driven to Albany, so flying here a few days earlier had been a first for me. To my surprise, that initial Perth–Albany flight with Rex was genuinely impressive—warm service, classic country hospitality, and a smooth, old-school feel that’s rare to find in today’s aviation world.
With Rex’s financial struggles dominating headlines, curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to see how the airline was faring on the return journey, especially now that the airline has new prospective owners and is slowly transitioning out of voluntary administration.
Even better, I managed to secure another $139 Community Fare, reduced from the eye-watering $419 standard price. Like many savvy West Aussies, I waited until the 24-hour mark when Rex drops prices on undersold regional flights. I even hedged my bets by booking a refundable TransWA coach ticket—but thankfully, the cheaper airfare popped up again.
Albany Airport: Charming, Tiny and Completely Unscreeened
Stepping inside Albany’s terminal feels more like entering a community centre than an airport. Unlike mining-driven regional centres such as Karratha or Newman, Albany Airport is lightly trafficked, seeing around 56,000 passengers annually and just a single scheduled route—Rex to Perth.
The airport is delightfully quirky. There’s a public library in the terminal, rows of comfortable seating, and a small but genuinely pleasant café. Most unusual of all, there is no airport security screening. Albany—and Esperance, too—are among the not so common Australian airports where you can simply walk to your gate with no security screening, making the entire experience feel effortless.
Check-in took mere seconds, handled the old-fashioned way with friendly staff and no queues. With time to spare before boarding, I wandered outside to watch our inbound aircraft taxi in from Perth.
Meet Our Workhorse: The SAAB 340
Rex operates 57 SAAB 340s, making it the largest operator of the type in the world. Today’s aircraft, VH-KRX, is more than 33 years old and comes with a colourful aviation history. Delivered in 1992 to Business Express Airlines in the United States, it joined Rex’s fleet in 2004 and has been faithfully flying around regional Australia ever since.
Despite its age, the SAAB 340 remains a reliable workhorse—simple, sturdy and perfectly suited for short WA routes.
With no security checks to slow things down, boarding felt more like catching a country bus. A quick stroll across the tarmac and we stepped aboard.
Onboard the SAAB 340: Compact, Comfortable and Nostalgic
Inside, the aircraft layout is a cosy 1–2 configuration, with 34 seats in total. The final row extends across the cabin, making the seat in 11D protrude slightly into the aisle—a rare quirk in modern aviation.
Seat pitch is an expected 30 inches, with an 18-inch width—nothing fancy, but perfectly comfortable for a one-hour hop. The fold-down tray table is surprisingly large, and the seat pockets contain the safety card and a regional-focused inflight magazine that’s genuinely worth reading.
As we rolled away from the stand and climbed out over Albany’s rugged coastline, I was reminded why I love these short regional flights. The simplicity, the quietness and the low cruising altitude all create a distinctly nostalgic flying experience.
Inflight Service: Old-School Rex Hospitality Lives On
Once settled at our modest cruising altitude of 14,000 feet, Rex’s cabin crew began inflight service. Despite the airline’s financial challenges, the hospitality remains warm, unhurried and perfectly in line with the Rex identity.
Passengers are offered a complimentary sweet or savoury snack, along with tea or coffee. I chose the savoury option—mini Vicky bites—which were surprisingly fresh. The coffee, while clearly instant, did the job for an early-morning flight.
On longer routes such as Perth–Esperance, Rex actually offers both snack options, and alcoholic beverages can be purchased on select services. For a small regional turboprop, the service is more than adequate, especially considering the airline’s budget-friendly fares.
Cruising Over WA’s Great Southern
The flight was smooth with just a few bumps, and soon the cloud cover broke to reveal sweeping views of Western Australia’s Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions—patchwork farmlands, winding rivers and endless golden plains shining in the summer sun.
Our flight time today was 1 hour and 10 minutes, slightly slower than usual due to air traffic control delays into Perth. These minor holdups are common during Perth Airport’s busy morning wave of arrivals.
Despite the short duration, the warmth of the cabin became noticeable—a trademark of the SAAB 340. With engines off on the ground and low cruising altitudes, these older turboprops heat up quickly. It’s nothing unbearable, but definitely something to keep in mind on hotter days.
A Smooth Arrival Into Perth
We descended over Perth’s suburbs, gliding in over rivers and rooftops before touching down at Perth Airport Terminal 2. Bright sunshine and temperatures around 15°C warmer than Albany greeted us—a quintessential contrast between coastal southern WA and the state’s capital.
Baggage collection was quick and simple, closing out what had been a calm, enjoyable and reliably Rex-styled flight.
The State of Rex in Late 2025: A Turbulent but Hopeful Future
Before wrapping up this review, it’s worth touching on Rex’s current situation. The airline’s financial instability has been headline news for more than a year. In mid-2024, Rex abruptly suspended all domestic jet services—its Boeing 737 flights between major eastern capitals—after the operation bled too much money.
I was personally affected by the cancellation of Rex’s short-lived Melbourne–Perth route, which I had planned to review.
Despite losing its jets, Rex has remarkably kept its regional turboprop network fully operational, supported by the Federal Government’s Regional Flight Booking Guarantee and the purchase of $50 million in Rex debt in early 2025.
The biggest turning point came in October 2025 when U.S.-based Minneapolis investment firm Air T agreed to take control of the airline. Creditors later voted to approve the deal, with full ownership transition expected in December 2025.
While little is publicly known about the new owners, there is cautious optimism that they will stabilise Rex, invest in fleet upgrades and secure the future of regional air services across Australia. Time will tell—but for now, the airline continues to fly with steady, dependable service.
Final Verdict: A Classic Regional Flight Worth Every Dollar
In a year filled with uncertainty for Rex Airlines, today’s Albany–Perth experience delivered exactly what travellers have long associated with Rex: friendly crew, reliable operations, simple complimentary service and a comfortable seat aboard a proven turboprop.
For just $139, the value was outstanding—especially compared to the usual $400+ fares. If you’re flexible with dates, this 24-hour fare-drop hack can save hundreds. Pair it with a refundable coach ticket, and you’ve got the perfect strategy for cheap regional travel.
Despite the aging SAAB 340 fleet and warm cabins, Rex still offers one of the most authentic and community-focused flying experiences in Australia. As the airline enters a new chapter under new ownership, I sincerely hope this uniquely Australian carrier continues to serve remote and regional communities for decades to come.
Disclaimer: This article has been repurposed from the original transcript of my own flight review on the Aussie JetSetter Youtube channel with the assistance of AI technologies. Please be advised whilst I have taken the utmost care to review and revise this article where necessary to reflect the upmost of accuracy at time of publication please be advised my reviews whether written or in video form are for entertainment and general information purposes only. They reflect the objective views in good faith of the person only whom is presenting them unless otherwise noted. Any decisions you make resulting from consuming my content must take into consideration your own circumstances, research and responsibility as I can not be hold responsible for any inaccuracies or future changes effecting the relativity of such reviews. All Rights Reserved by Aussie JetSetter from 2022 >
