This is unacceptable for a national broadcaster as again government only look at major areas and regional Australia is left behind. To direct these communities to use streaming services is a laugh as most struggle to get internet and those that do pay through the nose for satellite services.

Either fix the infrastructure, supply satellite dishes for free or pay residents internet fees. Get off your ass and do your job for all Australians.

I do not think it will be a great loss to not have these stations. Both are about their own agenda. I for one do not watch either station.

Where do I start? Rupert Murdoch already controls newspapers and Sky News with Bolt and Jones and Credlin etc preaching Rupert's propaganda - no wonder Kevin Rudd wants a Royal Commission into Rupert.

Pell now the total victim.

My parents watch Sky all night. Mum thinks Trump is a gift from God and David Attenborough is evil preaching climate change and, well, Greta is deranged.

I could go on and on. I am so depressed.

No PBS news and no Aljazeera news. And World News SBS.

So let's look objectively at this last public communication from our council and Rex's response.

Firstly the council's suggestion of increased competition (lower prices?) following the upgrade is not borne out by the actual circumstance. We now potentially have only one airline and unlike before no idea of the ticket prices. There is also no certainty of service as it is for a "trial" period only.

Secondly the plane being suggested by Qantas could have landed, in my understanding, on the old runway without the expense of an runway upgrade. Thirdly as the "owners" of the airport local ratepayers should expect to see clear advantage to this ownership and a net return from capital works. Is this the case?

Well I guess, as always, it will be wait and see as no council business study prior to upgrade clearly demonstrated this or predicted the current circumstance.

You might think Rex is playing hardball, but they are a business, one whose business bottom line has previously been adversely impacted by council decisions. If the council is a business and wishes to operate as such, they probable need to revisit their political and business acumen.

I have used Rex's flights from Sydney to Merimbula for the past five years. My family live in Merimbula and prior to 2020 I lived in New Zealand and used the this service to see them.

While having Qantas join the service was great to hear, losing REX is a huge and very sad blow to the area. I think it is a very poor reaction on REX who obviously have been affected like us all by the pandemic and economic impact.

This area is now at a huge risk of losing both airlines and having a huge negative impact of the growth and livelihoods of those who live there. I hope the Bega council really look at how it can rectify this situation.

We had an airline that has serviced the route loyally for years, a monopoly I think not!

Qantas had the opportunity for years to service the route, it's only now when all their planes are grounded that this route is attractive. Now Mr Fitzpatrick the greater choice for passengers are Qantas or walk. Good luck when things return to normal for Qantas, there really will be a price monopoly, with plenty of price hikes (as all of a sudden the route isn't that viable).

A sad day for Merimbula and REX

Once the pandemic is over, and it will be, it might be a good thing, opening up the route to other carriers.

But as someone who travelled regularly to Melbourne, I was devastated when they changed the service. My parents are no longer alive so it no longer affects me. But no service from MYA to SYD or MEL really does affect me and I know there will be plenty of others.

One, for instance, is Andrew Constance who lives down here but is required in Sydney regularly. Every time I have purchased a ticket, the flight has been fully booked.

I hope they change their mind or it opens the door to another carrier.

What does Qantas elbowing Rex out of Merimbula mean for Moruya? Your coverage was silent in that. Is it a win lose? And lose for Moruya?

The result will be higher fares like other state routes QAN has entered - and before long the loss of all air services to South Coast, when currently idle QAN planes are returned to their previous routes. Local councils just don't get it.