Orange–Newcastle talks continue as Rex suspends Orange–Sydney service

By Priya Raman

Orange City Council is negotiating a possible direct Orange–Newcastle service while QantasLink operates up to 19 round-trip Orange–Sydney flights each week using 74- to 78-seat Q400 turboprops.

The proposed link would connect Orange in Central Western NSW with Newcastle and bypass a Sydney connection. Discussions followed an Orange City Council meeting last week.

What is under negotiation?

At the meeting, Orange City Council’s director of corporate and commercial services, Jen Sharp, said discussions remained under way when speaking to councillor Kevin Duffy.

She said: “We’ve got some things that we’re not quite ready to have in a public forum just yet, but we will be able to share that with you very soon.”

Her wording leaves the operator, timetable and commercial terms undisclosed. Orange City Council and Newcastle Airport were also contacted for comment.

What does the current timetable show?

Orange Regional Airport is currently served only by QantasLink and Link Airways. Australian Aviation reported that QantasLink has no plans to begin Orange–Newcastle services.

That leaves the council’s proposal without a publicly announced operator, although QantasLink says its existing flights can support an expected increase in demand. The airline will monitor the routes and adjust schedules if required.

A Qantas spokesperson said QantasLink remains committed to supporting Orange’s residents and businesses and has enough capacity on existing flights to meet expected demand growth. The carrier will continue monitoring both routes and adjust schedules where required.

Qantas also said regional aviation faces rising labour costs, airport charges and government air traffic control (ATC) fees increasing faster than inflation. Fuel costs remain elevated, according to the airline.

Why did Rex suspend Orange–Sydney service?

Rex suspended its Orange–Sydney service at the end of the previous month, citing fuel costs and weak demand. In an October statement, the airline said: “The environment of entrenched high fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, together with lack of demand, do not make these routes commercially viable at this time.”

Rex also said both destinations continue to be served by another carrier. The airline described the suspension as part of a wider schedule optimisation while the Middle East situation affects airlines globally.

Rex will contact affected customers directly. Customers booked to travel on or after 25 October were offered a full refund or, subject to availability, rebooking on an alternative Rex service at no additional cost.

The airline will monitor conditions and consider lifting the suspension once fuel prices decrease to a commercially viable level. Rex described that possibility as conditional, not a commitment to restore the service.

Why did the council pursue the link earlier?

Discussions about a direct link are not new. In 2024, Orange City Council’s then airport community committee chair, councillor Jack Evans, announced a survey of Orange residents about the proposal.

Evans said conversations with local business owners and support letters received by council made clear residents would use the service if it were available. He also said many people already travel frequently between the two cities for various reasons.

Evans cited strong connections in education and industry between Orange and Newcastle. Similarities across mining and winemaking provide another stated reason for testing a direct air connection.

No survey results, passenger forecasts, route frequency or airline commitment have been disclosed. The council’s action establishes local interest, but not operating certainty.

What changes for Orange travellers?

For travellers, the immediate change is the suspension of Rex’s Orange–Sydney flights, not the arrival of Orange–Newcastle services. Orange Regional Airport remains served only by QantasLink and Link Airways.

A working Orange–Newcastle route would remove the Sydney connection for trips to Newcastle and add a point-to-point option to the regional network. No frequency, fare or launch date has been established, so passengers cannot yet treat the proposal as bookable.

Commercial viability remains the central constraint, with Qantas citing labour, airport and ATC costs rising faster than inflation. The next test is whether the council can identify an operator and disclose a viable schedule despite QantasLink’s stated lack of plans.