I have just had a look at the 738's stored at WTB. On the CASA website, VH-YFJ and VH-YFH are both shown with the Registered Operator being De Lorre and Associates Pty Ltd at Balmoral Brisbane. This is the same as REX, PAG, BZG and VOM. Whereas RQC and RQG are shown as Regional Express.
Am I guessing right that YFJ and YFH may be Nos 7 and 8???????

Dennis, I have the potential B738s that could be available, are not required by Virgin and are still in storage in Australia as VH-VOQ, VOR, VOS, VOT, VUA, VUB, VUD, YFE, YFH and YFJ. Please advise if there are any inaccuracies in this list - it looks as though YIW is remaining with VA.

From my records De Lore & Associates are also the registered operator of VH-VOQ, VOR, VUD and may be for more of the aircraft. It could be that REX takes two of these older B738s in preference to the YF* aircraft.

Adding to that is a story in today's SMH that Virgin is in, "advanced discussions to lease eight or nine more Boeing 737s to boost capacity..." There may not enough B738s in storage to satisfy this new demand. How ironic that would be.

BZG became RQP on 18/03/21
VOM became RYU on 18/03/21

Thanks for the update, Greg. Vale BZG's registration.

My list matches yours, James.
YFE/H/J - WTB
VOT, VUA - MEL
VUB (ex-Tiger) - MEL
VOQ - ASP
VOR, VUD (ex-Tiger) - ASP
VOS - BNE
VH-VOQ, VOR, VOS, VOT, VUA, VUB, VUD, YFE, YFH and YFJ

I also have VH-VUR in WTB but it has been re-registered 2-HVUR

YIW is remaining with VA along with YVC, VUY, VUE and for now VUX (although it is still in Tiger livery)

Cheers.

Thanks Tristan, yes I missed the old VH-VUR with it being re-registered and remaining in storage in Australia. I guess that the old VH-VUI and VUJ could also make a comeback for REX as they could still have the Virgin seating etc. They are now registered N341CG and N343CG and both flew to Goodyear, Arizona in December, 2020, presumably for ongoing storage.

Please excuse my ignorance but I can't seem to find where from the lists published where -YIW, YVC, VUY, VUE and -VUX are stored. Do you know where please ?

YVC VUY are in BNE
VUX YIW VUE are in MEL.

Cheers.

Thanks Tristan.

They do a lot of tanker conversions there.........

Funny how both registrations end in CG. Just thinking of Coulson.

May also have something to do with the owners name:

Aviation Capital Group (ACG)

Does anyone know if RQG's engines are back yet?

It does and is due to ferry down to Melbourne later this afternoon

Thanks Dylan, No word on the 2 in JKT yet

Last i heard was they were due by the end of the month

VH-RQG is currently flying from WGA to MEL as ZL9913 and is due to land at 16:42 local. I guess this means that the engines have arrived.

VH-RQG is currently holding at 41,000 feet. As it is a non-RPT flight it mustn't have any priority to land in MEL and is waiting for a gap in the traffic.

VH-RQG touched down in MEL at 17:12 after flying 516 miles on a 227 mile direct flight from WGA. The flight time was 1 hour 11 minutes.

REX has announced that it is commencing services from Sydney to Canberra on 19/4/21, initially with Saab 340s operating seven return flights per day, with the scope to upgrade to B738s during the morning and afternoon peak hours according to demand.

Source: Australian Business Traveller

VH-RQP is planned to be into Brisbane tomorrow night arriving at 1840L. Ex VA VH-BZG

Some pretty horrible loads on their one and only route at present, with all the chopping and changing of plans it looks a bit like Jetgo Mk2 at present.

I flew down on REX to MEL and back on Tuesday 9 March on the $49.00 fares to try out their service. To MEL was on VH-REX and about 1/3 full but the return on VH-PAG was with only 11 passengers on board. I felt like I was on my own personal jet. As you say Mark, horrible loads and not too good for the bottom line.

VH-RQG commenced services for REX this afternoon, 25/3/21 operating ZL132 from MEL-SYD and returning to MEL as ZL145.

VH-RQP has just arrived in BNE from CGK and will continue to SYD tomorrow, leaving around midday QLD time.

VH-RQP at BNE.Looks like Black writing on this one?:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/794876...in/dateposted/

Next REX 738 delivery is VH-RYU due BNE either tomorrow night or Monday night.

Any updates on when RYU is due to arrive?

RYU was in the BAC advanced schedules but never happened.
Either a gliche or a delay .

RYU now (possibly) due in at 1900L tomorrow night.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VHRYU

RYU is now (finally) on the way to BNE, eta 1954L

Don't count your eggs before it lands in Brisbane

Haha true .. at least this time it's actually in the air! (and FlightAware doesn't show a flight for VH-RYU from 7 years ago....)

RYU completed its flight from CGK flying the last leg from BNE to SYD arriving at 13:58 this afternoon, 21/4/21.

PAG spending the weekend in Brisbane from Melbourne via Canberra on a charter

The REX charter is possibly taking the Brumbies from CBR to BNE for tonight's super rugby game with the Queensland Reds.

Yesterday's pic at BNE:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/794876...in/dateposted/

I came across an article in Simple Flying from 12 May, 2021 with John Sharpe giving a discussion on the performance of REX's jet services. He says that the best performing route is MEL-ADL and the following quote regarding acquiring additional jets is from the article:

If the next four REX B738s are coming from ex-Virgin planes, in my view this only leaves potentially six B738s available, being VUA, VOQ, VOS from the ex-Virgin fleet and VOR, VUB, VUD from the Tiger fleet. At a stretch they could acquire ex-Virgin VUI and VUJ from GYR which as N341CG and N343CG haven't moved since arriving there in December, 2020.

It will be interesting to see which aircraft are chosen.

Source: Simple Flying https://simpleflying.com/rex-orders-...box=1620797820

Rex announced yesterday they expect to have a loss of $15M this financial year.

Hi all,

The wife took REX from MEL to CBR this afternoon.
Said the flight was well serviced, great crew, about 1/2 to 2/3 full, on time departure and arrival.

Funny how as soon as REX come along, the Mel-CBR fares fall from $180-200 each way to $70+....

Australian Aviation has published news of REX signing leases on two additional B738s to take their total to eight. There is no mention in the article of the source of the aircraft but it assumed that they will be ex-Virgin B738s.

The pertinent section is:

Source: https://australianaviation.com.au/20...4d2632df0284e3