And just as they had with previous interlopers, cossetted Qantas and to a lesser extent Virgin, responded to Rex’s attempt to gatecrash their key routes by adding capacity and cutting prices. Clearly, Rex’s move to augment its regional services by offering services flying between capital cities was folly.

Now the Transport Workers’ Union wants the federal government to take an equity stake in the airline. However, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pointed out, the airline already received substantial public funding with “no conditions attached”.

Virgin is being mentioned as a possible buyer, but the importance of Rex’s core business – servicing regional Australia – cannot be allowed to be jeopardised by its rash entry into the capital cities. Certainly, there are challenges facing the company’s regional business, not least an ageing fleet of small SAAB 340s, half of which are reportedly grounded due to a global parts shortage.

Such flights are the backbone of regional towns and cities, essential for economic, health and social wellbeing. To this end, the option of some transitional government support may be needed to maintain regional routes.

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