Australian charter service National Jet Express is set to launch a new base in Brisbane (BNE) following the confirmation of its first mining contract in Queensland.
Brisbane bound
Announced Wednesday, the Rex Group-owned charter service will begin operations on a long-term contract for BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Services will launch on July 1, connecting mining operators in rural Queensland with National Jet Express and Rex Airlines’ network of over 24 regional destinations.
Alongside the new route, National Jet Express will establish a base at Brisbane Airport, operating alongside sibling carrier Rex Airlines. The airline primarily targets operations in rural, underserved regions, including Birdsville (BVI), Cunnamulla (CMA), and Thargomindah (XTG), as well as to major hubs Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL).
“We are humbled to have been selected by BMA, one of the world’s most respected mining operators. Their confidence in us is an endorsement of NJE’s position as a premium regional air service provider to the mining and resources industry,” noted Chris Hine, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of NJE.
“Many mining operators in Queensland have been reaching out to the Rex Group since its purchase of NJE in October last year, eager for Rex to replicate its hallmark standards of reliability, professionalism and safety into mining markets.”
Services will be operated with a fleet of modern De Havilland Canada DCH-8-Q400NG aircraft, with two new aircraft to be procured specifically for operations in Queensland. The next-generation aircraft will slash operational costs through a 50% reduction in fuel consumption compared to its predecessor, cutting carbon emissions in the process.
To meet the demand for regional mining and resource operations around Queensland, the Rex Group is also planning to introduce Embraer E190 jets to Brisbane Airport, following the type’s success on Australia’s West Coast.
Return of National Jet Express
Initially launched in 1990, the National Jet Express brand was briefly put on hiatus after the carrier rebranded to Cobham Aviation Services in 2009, a decade after its acquisition by British aerospace manufacturer Cobham. The carrier was again acquired by Rex Group in 2022, reforming National Jet Express earlier this year.
Rex Group has primarily set the carrier’s focus as a Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) charter service, updating its operations with the addition of reliable, modern aircraft to its fleet, outperforming other regional operators still utilizing aging Fokker 100 regional jets. In August 2022, Rex Airlines was named the most reliable airline in Australia, with the best on-time performance and lowest cancellation rate of any Australian carrier.
National Jet Express currently operates a mix of six E190s and eight Dash 8s for chartered passenger services, while four very rare British Aerospace 146s are in use for freighter operations into Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide (ADL), and the Gold Coast (OOL). Three more Dash 8-100 aircraft are utilized exclusively for FIFO services between Port Moresby (POM) in Papua New Guinea and Cairns (CNS).
What are your thoughts on National Jet Express’ new Brisbane base? What other destinations would you like to see the Rex Group add? Let us know in the comments.
