REX to lease more 737s

[Tom/PER]

Should have the sky interior.

Just had a msg from a ZL contact you’re both correct it does indeed feature a BSI interior. I’m still hearing the next 2 incoming aircraft are being sourced from SQ.

 

[jb747]

Might be able to get some from Bonza...

 

[Harrison_133]

8ZL will be fitted with actual business class seats in early 2024 according to an article by Executive Traveller.

They also have no plans to standardise the seating across the 737 fleet.

Why Rex has ‘Euro-business class’ on its latest 737

Business class flyers will find themselves in an economy seat at the front of the plane.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Saab34]

Fitting new seats would cost about $1m per aircraft going off some market rates, they certainly are not in the financial position to do that.

When are they launching transcontinental? With they would sort out a deal.

 

[Harrison_133]

8ZL has now been reconfigured into the standard configuration with actual business class seats.

Re-entered service today 4 hours behind schedule.

 

[HS-TQE]

The J Class seats on REX's ex-MI/SQ 738s.

Rex Airlines Boeing 737 Business Class (Brisbane – Sydney)

Rex Business Class provides a competitive premium domestic experience, both in price and service. And also a touch of country hospitality.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[juliusg]

PERTH. When oh when can we fly east coast to Perth on Rex? I'm gagging for this in J.

 

[Harrison_133]

In today's investor briefing Rex have signalled "additional flying of up to 3 additional Boeing 737-800NGs to the fleet."

The current 737 fleet has reduced from 10 to 9. VH-RQG has been removed from service and will be returned to the lessor.

Rex also reported a $3.2 million loss for the first half of FY2024. They also cannot predict full year profitability at this time due to escalating costs.

Source: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02779631-2A1508638

 

[Saab34]

Rex also reported a $3.2 million loss for the first half of FY2024. They also cannot predict full year profitability at this time due to escalating costs.

Operating loss from continued operations seems to be much higher however, $30m~, that is if you ignore all the shuffling around that they are doing on the balance sheet in the back. That’s the figure that matters to me as an investor, I’m not interesting in accounting gains here and there propping up numbers. Operating profits or losses from continued operations is an important health check. Gives me a good idea where it’s going over the medium term and helps dictate my portfolio.

Astounds me that they are not raking in the profits from its 737 fleet that operates on most of the highest margin domestic routes on earth.

I would be curious to see what the numbers are if one was to eliminate the Saab operation and stick with the 737s. The Saab operation seems like it’s going to be a continuous drag on the balance sheet.

 

[HS-TQE]

According to those from another Airport related forum, 9V-MGC, MGD and MGE are the units rumoured to be transferred to ZL once they finish up their lease with SQ.

With RQG's withdrawal from the fleet, this leaves Rex with 2 extra 737 aircraft.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

They seemed to improve on 2022 though which is encouraging.

 

[mad_atta]

This is probably old news now, but we flew on the ex-GOL aircraft (VH-8ZL) in business last night which has the same biz seats as VA's new design (with legests) but much more room - I was amazed at how spacious the configuration was. It's not super obvious from the pic below, but there was a huge amount of legroom (seemed like a solid 50" pitch, maybe more) and a ton of space *behind* row 2 as well, so in addition to lots of legroom the recline (and the amount the legrest would raise) was also really impressive.

The cabin looked like it probably originally had 3 rows in a more conventional domestic biz class config, which had been replaced by just 2 on this particular bird. Very nice, but surely costing them $$$.

My (admittedly not very tall) other half actually could not reach the seatback in front even with his legs stretched right out!

 

[AIRwin]

a ton of space *behind* row 2

Any divider?

 

[mad_atta]

Any divider?

Yes there was a divider, but quite a long way behind row 2, hence enough space for genuinely impressive recline.

 

[Harrison_133]

This is probably old news now, but we flew on the ex-GOL aircraft (VH-8ZL) in business last night which has the same biz seats as VA's new design (with legests) but much more room

VH-MFM, the ex Jet Airways aircraft, has also had these new seats fitted in business class.

 

[Chicken]

View attachment 382628

Holy cow, that's massive.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This is probably old news now, but we flew on the ex-GOL aircraft (VH-8ZL) in business last night which has the same biz seats as VA's new design (with legests) but much more room - I was amazed at how spacious the configuration was. It's not super obvious from the pic below, but there was a huge amount of legroom (seemed like a solid 50" pitch, maybe more) and a ton of space *behind* row 2 as well, so in addition to lots of legroom the recline (and the amount the legrest would raise) was also really impressive.

The cabin looked like it probably originally had 3 rows in a more conventional domestic biz class config, which had been replaced by just 2 on this particular bird. Very nice, but surely costing them $$$.

My (admittedly not very tall) other half actually could not reach the seatback in front even with his legs stretched right out!
View attachment 382628

You’re right… it’s around 48-50 inches. Similar to Egyptair’s arrangement on their 737s, which is 48 inches.

Perhaps costing them money… but their flights are rarely full. So the benefits of offering a superior seating product and getting some extra revenue there might pay off? If flights were consistently full it might be different.

It’s very comfortable, one of their other configurations have older, but very plush seats with a leg rest that goes almost horizontal!

The inconsistency comes from lack of any IFE. For most of their aircraft the trade-off is huge seat and legroom, but no wifi. On the ex VA aircraft you get VA seats, but wifi.

Although I lucked out yesterday with an ex VA seat and no wifi

Would be a tough flight to PER with zero entertainment.