The regional airline Rex had an ambition to break into the lucrative ‘golden triangle’, the busy airline routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 

It got a handful of big jet aircraft and started to take on the established players, Qantas and Virgin. 

But after just three and a half years, those routes have been scrapped and the airline is in administration. 

So, what went wrong? 

Today, aviation expert Ian Douglas on Rex’s downfall and whether Australia could ever support more than two major airlines. 

Featured: 

Ian Douglas, senior lecturer at UNSW Sydney’s School of Aviation