Regional Express (Rex) has announced the appointment of former Virgin Australia executive Ann Elliott as its general manager of sales.
Elliott joins Rex with more than 32 years in the travel industry, having started her career at a travel agency in Armidale.
Most recently, Elliott worked as Virgin Australia’s general manager of sales across Australia and New Zealand, and was one of a number of executives to quietly exit the airline after Bain Capital’s takeover deal was approved by creditors in September.
In her new role, Elliott will lead Rex’s sales team as it embarks on its historic domestic expansion.
“I am thrilled to be starting at Rex at such a challenging and exciting time,” she said.
“I look forward to working for a company that is so highly regarded all over Australia, and that has such a solid track record with more accumulated absolute profits in the last 12 years than even Qantas.”
Earlier this week, Rex received approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board regarding its $150 million funding agreement with investment group PAG to help make its domestic expansion a reality.
Rex recently showed off the livery for its newly acquired Boeing 737s, which will spearhead the airline’s capital city assault against Qantas and Virgin.
The first three of Rex’s Boeing 737-800s will take off between Sydney and Melbourne on 1 March 2021, and the airline will begin with nine return services per day between the two state capitals.
Rex will add another two Boeing 737s by Easter as part of its domestic network expansion to Brisbane and other capital cities.
If all goes to plan, the airlines hopes to grow its Boeing 737 fleet to around eight to 10 by the end of 2021.
Promotional fares are currently on sale for the Sydney-Melbourne service at $79 a pop.
