Regional Express (Rex) is reportedly considering whether to acquire Cobham Aviation Services’ two businesses, a move that would allow it to gain more market share.

The Australian Financial Review, without naming its sources, reports that Rex has been doing due diligence on Cobham Aviation Services’ two businesses that are up for sale, with a view to making a bid in the coming weeks.

One unit is Cobham’s cargo and fly-in, fly-out passenger (FIFO) charter services business that primarily serve’s Australia’s mining companies and the other is Surveillance Australia, which has a long-term contract with Australia’s Border Force to provide maritime surveillance.

US private equity firm Advent, which owns Cobham, put the two business units up for sale in February.

The Australian Financial Review also reports that Virgin Australia and Qantas Airways are not interested in acquiring Cobham.

Qantas Airways this week announced its offer to buy 100% of Alliance Airlines, another mining charter operator in Australia.

Smart Aviation Asia Pacific previously reported that Cobham Aviation Services Australia’s fleet consists of: four Bombardier Challenger 604s, six Dash 8-400s, four E-190s, three Avro RJ100s, four BAe 146s and ten smaller model Dash-8s. The operator is also looking to expand and will be adding four more aircraft in the coming months.

Picture Source: Cobham.com

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