News Brief: Rex Airlines Sale to Air T
Summary
US company Air T is moving closer to purchasing the financially troubled Australian regional carrier Rex Airlines, which is in voluntary administration. While the sale offers hope for the airline’s future, numerous creditors, including local councils, remain doubtful about recovering millions of dollars owed to them.
Key Points
- Sale Progress: Administrators have signed a sale agreement with US-based Air T, which aims to finalize the deal by the end of the financial year, pending approvals.
- Creditor Concerns: Multiple creditors, such as the Albany City Council (owed ~$456,000) and Esperance Shire (owed ~$430,000), are skeptical about recouping their funds due to the large number of unsecured creditors and the airline’s significant debt.
- Air T’s Commitment: Air T states it will work to ensure Rex continues operating sustainably to serve regional Australia and expresses confidence in Rex’s management team.
- Creditor Involvement: Some affected councils hope for a seat at the table in future negotiations with the state government to prevent similar situations and ensure community input.
- Future Outlook: A former Rex managing director believes Air T is a suitable owner with industry expertise and predicts growth in regional routes, potentially requiring multiple operators for better service and competition.
- Government Stance: The federal Transport Minister’s office declined to comment on whether assistance would be provided to creditors.
新闻简报：雷克斯航空出售给Air T公司
总结
美国公司Air T正进一步接近收购陷入财务困境的澳大利亚地区性航空公司雷克斯航空，后者目前处于自愿托管状态。虽然此次出售为航空公司的未来带来了希望，但许多债权人，包括地方政府，对于收回被拖欠的数百万美元款项仍持怀疑态度。
关键点
- 出售进展：托管人已与总部位于美国的Air T公司签署了出售协议，Air T目标是在本财年结束前获得批准以最终完成交易。
- 债权人担忧：多个债权人，如奥尔巴尼市议会（被拖欠约45.6万澳元）和埃斯佩兰斯郡（被拖欠约43万澳元），由于无担保债权人数量众多且航空公司债务巨大，对收回资金表示怀疑。
- Air T的承诺：Air T表示将努力确保雷克斯航空持续运营，为澳大利亚地区提供服务，并对雷克斯的管理团队充满信心。
- 债权人参与：一些受影响的地方政府希望在未来与州政府的谈判中能有发言权，以防止类似情况发生并确保社区的意见得到考虑。
- 未来展望：雷克斯航空前董事总经理认为Air T是合适的拥有者，具备行业专业知识，并预测地区航线将增长，可能需要多个运营商来提供更好的服务和竞争。
- 政府立场：联邦交通部长办公室对是否会向债权人提供援助不予置评。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-22/regional-express-airlines-takeover-creditors-owed-millions/105914690