Australian regional carrier National Jet Express (NJE), a member of the Rex Group, is poised to welcome its ninth De Havilland Dash 8-400NG ‘Next Generation’ aircraft into its fleet.
This new 82 seat regional commuter will support operations for the carrier’s long-term contract with mining conglomerate BHP Mitsubishi Alliance.
Long-standing partnership with BHP
The imminent arrival of the Dash 8-400NG aircraft marks a further milestone for NJE. This aircraft will be the second of its kind deployed to bolster NJE’s long-standing partnership with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA).
Since its inauguration into service on July 1, 2023, this aircraft type has become instrumental in serving the needs of the mining giant.
The forthcoming deployment of another Dash 8-400NG aircraft in October will continue to enhance NJE’s operational efficiency, enabling it to extend its flights to the Moranbah mining community located in the Bowen Basin, approximately 1000 kilometers north of Brisbane.
Expanding Operations in Queensland
NJE’s trajectory is marked by the ongoing expansion of its Queensland operations. Notably, the company is currently in advanced negotiations for two additional contracts within the mining and construction sectors.
These upcoming contracts hold the potential to broaden the reach of Dash 8-400NG services to other regions of Queensland.
The anticipation of these agreements signifies NJE’s commitment to facilitating seamless transportation solutions across various industries.
“We have been delighted by the response we have received to our commencement of Dash 8-400NG services from July,” affirms Chris Hine, the Managing Director of NJE. “Based on the demand we are seeing, we fully expect to further grow our Queensland based fleet in 2024.”
Regional Operations
National Jet Express traces its origins back to 1994, and with the impending introduction of the latest Dash 8-400NG aircraft, the company is poised to operate a fleet of nine Dash 8-400s.
This new addition complements NJE’s existing fleet of six Embraer E190 jets, which have been integral in serving clients within the mining and resources sector across Australia.
In addition to these, NJE successfully operates four British Aerospace BAe 146s, facilitating efficient night freight operations between major cities such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and the Gold Coast.
NJE also employs three De Havilland Dash 8-100 aircraft for Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) operations, bridging the gap between Papua New Guinea and Cairns.
Rex Group
NJE’s affiliation with the Rex Group, effective from October 1, 2022, has fortified its position as a key player in the aviation industry. Rex is a 50% shareholder of National Jet Express (NJE), which operates as a premier Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO), charter and freight operator.
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 58 Saab 340 and 8 Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 57 destinations throughout all states in Australia.
In addition to the airline Rex, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator), the Australian Airline Pilot Academy with campuses in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat.
The Group also owns propeller maintenance organisation, Australian Aerospace Propeller Maintenance.
