Rex to scale back services in regional New South Wales, Queensland citing 'Relentless pillaging' of its pilot pool

Australia's largest regional airline is reducing seven of its New South Wales routes and suspending another for at least six months, as well as withdrawing from a route in Queensland.

In a statement to the media, Rex said services would be reduced on the following NSW routes until March 31, 2024.

* Sydney-Port Macquarie

* Sydney-Coffs Harbour

* Sydney-Albury 

* Sydney-Griffith

* Sydney-Narrandera

* Sydney-Orange

* Sydney-Parkes

Rex will also suspend services between Sydney and Armidale until March next year, and withdraw from the Cairns-Bamaga route in Far North Queensland.

Rex has not responded to requests for an interview, but in a statement the airline's general manager of network strategy, Warrick Lodge, said he hoped the changes were temporary.

"We prefer to reduce the scheduled services so that our passengers can be assured of fewer disruptions and more reliable services," he said.

In the statement, Rex blamed major carriers, particularly the Qantas Group, for the "relentless pillaging" of its pool of pilots.

"We intend to return to the standard flight schedules [from next year] however this is subject to the situation improving," Mr Lodge added.

Qantas has dismissed the claims about pilot "pillaging".

Communities affected 'Disappointed' by decision:

Albury mayor Kylie King said Rex felt like "part of the furniture" at Albury Airport.

"It is disappointing, they have obviously had to make this no doubt difficult decision and we respect that," she said.

Cr King said there was definitely a demand for flights.

"We certainly know the market is there, they are not reducing their flights from what I understand because of a lack of patronage," she said.

Coffs Harbour Airport general manager Frank Mondello (Above left) confirmed the return service from Coffs to Sydney would be reduced from five services to three.

"It's a reduction that will end up probably leaving us about 18,000 [fewer] seats to Sydney till about March 2024," he said.

"We're keen to get Rex back to full capacity here as soon as possible."

In Albury, the mayor said the community was ready to back the smaller carrier.

"The positive thing is that when they are able to … get back up and running we certainly have got a community ready, willing and able to support them and others flying to Sydney," Cr King said.

"We are just going to have to book in advance, look at our options and … try and manage it as best as we can until they can get back on their feet and resume full service."