It needs two in five passengers at Armidale Regional Airport to warrant the flights.

If it attracted just one extra passenger in every five, it will commit to the new route, Rex general manager of network strategies Warrick Lodge says.

The last Armidale-to-Brisbane service was operated by Brindabella Airlines butstopped in June 2012.

Rex has committed Brisbane flights from two other NSW regional airports from January 1.

  But Mr Lodge said the carrier would need at least 35 per cent of the Armidale market for it to make the new route viable.

It currently has 22 per cent of the market, with the airport notching a rise of 15 per cent in passenger traffic since Rex returned to Armidale skies.

“The Rex board has given a commitment that it will service Brisbane if it achieves that [35 per cent],” Mr Lodge said.

“There is a way to go to sustain the Sydney route in the long term before the introduction of a Brisbane route … [but] the economic and social benefits of the surrounding region will be huge.”

He said ideally the airline wanted to see two of every five passengers use the service.

Rex management is in discussions with the city’s business community to see if it would support its plans. Executive officer of the Armidale Business Chamber Tracy Pendergast said it was welcome news.

“The Brisbane connection has real potential to catalyse tourism, investment and job growth in Armidale,” she said.

“In the first instance, there are a number of people in Armidale, Tamworth and the district who do business in Brisbane – and this link will make their lives easier, while at the same time strengthening the airport as a regional hub.”

The decision comes as Rex is preparing to launch two new regional NSW routes to Brisbane from January 1.