General manager David Sherley said yesterday council would be very concerned at any loss of airline services to the bush.

“Council views this as an essential component to ensuring the ongoing vibrancy of life in regional Australia,” he said.

“In Bathurst we are fortunate to have a great relationship with Regional Express (REX) and have worked with them in the past where there have been concerns relating to legislative changes by other tiers of government, especially access to Sydney Airport.”

Mr Sherley said it was now a matter of council working with REX to ensure that a sustainable commuter air service remains in the region.

“Council has made long-term commitments to the infrastructure at the local airport and part of that motivation has included our partnership with REX,” he said.

“In recent times we have upgraded the airport terminal at Bathurst and have only very recently spent $450,000 upgrading the old runway lighting, as well as installing a state-of-the-art Precision Approach Path Indicator there.”

Greg Tucker from Harvey World Travel in Bathurst said yesterday losing the REX air service between Bathurst and Sydney would be a huge loss for local people who do business in the metropolitan area.

“However, as far as tourism goes, and my business, there really is no impact,” he said. “Most people hop in the car and drive to Sydney these days to catch a flight.”

Mr Tucker said if REX was to wind up its services between Bathurst and Sydney it would be a loss for the region.

When Clancy Ford dealer principal Greg Brimble heard the news yesterday he said he was shocked and stunned.

“A regional centre the size of Bathurst cannot afford to be without a regular air service,” he said. “The city has a lot of government offices here and needs that link with Sydney.

“The service has to be financially viable, I understanding that. If not, then somebody has to do something about that and if there has to be some government assistance there, then so be it.”

Local aviator Graeme Burke said a regular air service for Bathurst was critical.

“I shudder to think of the ramifications there would be if REX pulled out,” he said. “Bathurst is one of the major regional centres in the country, so if the service here is not viable, then I hate to think what would happen in other centres this airline services.

“My feeling is that REX would not cease all its flights in and out of Bathurst, more consolidate the service and cut back to run only those flights that are most popular.”