Rex cuts 24 jobs in freight restructure

Airline Regional Express Holdings Ltd (Rex) will cull 24 pilots and ground staff
after a restructure of its freight business due to the decline in freight volumes.
Managing Director Jim Davis said on Tuesday a dramatic drop in overnight freight
volumes has forced it to restructure its freight business.
"Sadly, this has resulted in unavoidable redundancies amongst the pilots and for
some ground staff," Mr Davis said in a statement.
Rex said it has commenced phasing out its small Metro 3 freighter aircraft and has
announced to staff that in total 20 pilots and four ground staff will no longer be
required.
The freight services remaining will now be operated by Saab 340 aircraft, which can
carry freight more efficiently and economically than the smaller Metro 3s.
Three Saab 340 freighters have already been placed in service, it said.
The last Metro 3 freight run will operate on May 29.
Rex said it has not announced any retrenchment of pilots for its regular passenger
operations, but cannot rule out such a possibility in the next six months if the
current deterioration in the industry continues