A Rex Airlines flight attendant who lost her job has issued a heartbreaking response to a frustrated customer following the company’s collapse.
This comes after a customer criticised the airline on social media, which cancelled all flights between airports in major cities after filing for voluntary administration on Tuesday night.
The frustrated customer wrote: ‘Rex Airlines has gone into administration and cancelled my flights with less than 48 hours notice.
‘They are supposed to offer transfers to Virgin free of charge, but we have been on hold with them for over an hour.’
Responding to the angry customer, former Rex flight attendant Layla Rackley pointed out that many workers, including herself, had recently lost their jobs.
‘I know this is very frustrating, but Rex staff, including myself, have lost our jobs very unexpectedly and we are all heartbroken.
‘I hope your flights are resolved.’
Ms Rackley went on to share a series of photographs showing her time working for Rex Airlines along with a heartfelt thank you to her former colleagues.
Rex Airlines flight attendant Layla Rackley (pictured) asked frustrated customers who arrange alternative flights to treat staff with kindness and patience.
Ms Rackley (pictured with other Rex flight attendants) said she was “very grateful” for her experience with Rex Airlines.
“Two years ago I left everything I knew to move to Sydney and start my dream job as a flight attendant,” she said.
‘I am very grateful for the friends who are now family and for all the experiences they have given me to become the person I am today.
“Rex will always hold a special place in my heart. I am absolutely heartbroken, but together we will get through this.”
His comments came just before administrators informed hundreds of employees that they were unlikely to receive their salaries or severance pay for several months.
At a meeting with employees, EY administrator Justin Walsh said the airline is unable to cover its costs.
“The business, to be very frank, is simply not viable and the administrators, after working very hard, have come to the conclusion that (Rex Airlines) is not in a position to pay the wages of its employees in the future,” administrator Justin Walsh said at a meeting with employees.
In short, I assume that the company cannot cover the costs it will have to assume to continue operating.
Transport Minister Catherine King has pledged to work closely with administrators to ensure the airline maintains its flights out of capital cities, describing them as vital to many regional communities.
Ms Rackley (pictured with a colleague) highlighted how she and other Rex employees had suddenly lost their jobs.
Regional flights have continued to operate following EY’s appointment, while rival airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas have collaborated to help customers booked on routes to the capital access alternative flights.
Administrators said on Wednesday they were confident the airline’s status as a key regional carrier would continue, while noting that Virgin had expressed interest in taking over several of Rex’s grounded Boeing 737s on key cancelled routes.
Ms. King did not rule out the possibility of a government bailout when asked about that possibility, though she said no figures had been discussed on the levels of federal funding that might be involved in an aid package.
“The first thing we’re interested in is hearing from management about what’s needed to ensure the regional aviation that Rex is providing continues,” he said.
“The government will act quickly… it is a complex situation with multiple trade agreements in place, but we are prepared to work very closely with the administrators, because that regional presence is absolutely vital.”
Rex Airlines has entered voluntary administration and suspended all flights between major airports.
The TWU has called on the federal government to buy an equity stake in Rex to minimise job losses and protect regional Australia.
“This is another dark day for aviation, with more than 600 families facing sudden unemployment in an industry that has suffered one blow after another,” said TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.
“The focus now must be on maximising jobs, protecting regional routes, securing opportunities for redeployment to other aviation companies and ensuring that royalties are paid as quickly as possible.”