wowpow
July 27th, 2006, 23:48
Lower cost connection to Australia ready for launch, The Bangkok Post, BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA
Jetstar Airways, the budget airline of Australia's Qantas, is making its first foray into the Asia-Pacific by launching long-haul flights to six destinations, including Bangkok and Phuket. It is due to start flying Bangkok-Melbourne and Phuket-Sydney in November to tap the growing market for budget international travel. Mr Koczkar gives the thumbs-up for the new direct budget flights to Bangkok and Phuket, which are scheduled to start in November. They are expected to complement parent, Qantas's premium flights, which already run to the Thai destinations.
Jetstar, which flies to 21 destinations in Australia and runs some international flights, to Christchurch in New Zealand for example, will also operate either Sydney or Melbourne-Bali, Sydney-Ho Chi Minh City, Brisbane-Osaka and to Honolulu from a yet-to-be-named Australian city. The strategy would mean considerable growth for Jetstar over the next three years, said David Koczkar, general manager for pricing and offline channels.
Jetstar's long-haul debut will be supported by an initial fleet of six Airbus A330-200 aircraft (303 seats), then 12 new Boeing 787 ''Dreamliners'' will be used, with the delivery of the first B787-8 in late 2008. ''With a fleet of 12 wide-body aircraft, Jetstar will eventually develop a significant international network to a large number of Australian and overseas destinations,'' Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said in a statement. Jetstar's long-haul services would complement those of its parent, premium-market Qantas, which already serves the routes. ''Jetstar and Qantas will grow our businesses together,'' said Mr Koczkar.
Jetstar also plans to expand its existing domestic network in Australia, which currently stands at over 1,000 flights each week. Jetstar now flies 23 Airbus A320s, which can carry 177 passengers each, on Australian domestic and trans-Tasman routes. It has carried nearly 11 million passengers since its launch two years ago, claiming an 13% plus market share of the Australian domestic air market at present. In three years' time, international flights are expected to make up 22% of the Qantas Group's services, the company said.
Its first direct Melbourne-Bangkok is scheduled for November 23, with the first Sydney-Phuket the following day. Flights on the direct routes will be three times a week.
Jetstar is offering rock-bottom fares until tomorrow to promote the two Thailand-Australia routes _ from 910 baht one-way for Phuket-Sydney and from 1,000 baht one-way for Bangkok-Melbourne _ excluding extras like fuel surcharges, fees and taxes. The add-ons bring the cost to 3,900 baht. All-inclusive fares will then go up to 8,000 baht one-way for both routes or 24,000 baht for ''StarClass'' _ this consists of seats that are similar to Qantas domestic business class, with offerings like in-seat power, priority check-in, boarding and excess baggage allowances, all inclusive meals and beverages and video-on-demand.
''Bangkok and Phuket are two of the most popular tourism destinations in Asia for Australians and with Jetstar's high brand recognition in Australia and a genuine national appetite for low fares, we believe we will encourage thousands of regular and new tourists to these destinations,'' added Mr Koczkar. Unlike most of the world's low-cost carriers which offer one class with no assigned seats, Jetstar has chosen to go for two classes of service. Jetstar is the first airline to re-establish direct flights between Australia and Phuket, after Thai Airways and Australian Airlines pulled out due to low demand following the Dec 2004 tsunami.
Jetstar Airways, the budget airline of Australia's Qantas, is making its first foray into the Asia-Pacific by launching long-haul flights to six destinations, including Bangkok and Phuket. It is due to start flying Bangkok-Melbourne and Phuket-Sydney in November to tap the growing market for budget international travel. Mr Koczkar gives the thumbs-up for the new direct budget flights to Bangkok and Phuket, which are scheduled to start in November. They are expected to complement parent, Qantas's premium flights, which already run to the Thai destinations.
Jetstar, which flies to 21 destinations in Australia and runs some international flights, to Christchurch in New Zealand for example, will also operate either Sydney or Melbourne-Bali, Sydney-Ho Chi Minh City, Brisbane-Osaka and to Honolulu from a yet-to-be-named Australian city. The strategy would mean considerable growth for Jetstar over the next three years, said David Koczkar, general manager for pricing and offline channels.
Jetstar's long-haul debut will be supported by an initial fleet of six Airbus A330-200 aircraft (303 seats), then 12 new Boeing 787 ''Dreamliners'' will be used, with the delivery of the first B787-8 in late 2008. ''With a fleet of 12 wide-body aircraft, Jetstar will eventually develop a significant international network to a large number of Australian and overseas destinations,'' Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said in a statement. Jetstar's long-haul services would complement those of its parent, premium-market Qantas, which already serves the routes. ''Jetstar and Qantas will grow our businesses together,'' said Mr Koczkar.
Jetstar also plans to expand its existing domestic network in Australia, which currently stands at over 1,000 flights each week. Jetstar now flies 23 Airbus A320s, which can carry 177 passengers each, on Australian domestic and trans-Tasman routes. It has carried nearly 11 million passengers since its launch two years ago, claiming an 13% plus market share of the Australian domestic air market at present. In three years' time, international flights are expected to make up 22% of the Qantas Group's services, the company said.
Its first direct Melbourne-Bangkok is scheduled for November 23, with the first Sydney-Phuket the following day. Flights on the direct routes will be three times a week.
Jetstar is offering rock-bottom fares until tomorrow to promote the two Thailand-Australia routes _ from 910 baht one-way for Phuket-Sydney and from 1,000 baht one-way for Bangkok-Melbourne _ excluding extras like fuel surcharges, fees and taxes. The add-ons bring the cost to 3,900 baht. All-inclusive fares will then go up to 8,000 baht one-way for both routes or 24,000 baht for ''StarClass'' _ this consists of seats that are similar to Qantas domestic business class, with offerings like in-seat power, priority check-in, boarding and excess baggage allowances, all inclusive meals and beverages and video-on-demand.
''Bangkok and Phuket are two of the most popular tourism destinations in Asia for Australians and with Jetstar's high brand recognition in Australia and a genuine national appetite for low fares, we believe we will encourage thousands of regular and new tourists to these destinations,'' added Mr Koczkar. Unlike most of the world's low-cost carriers which offer one class with no assigned seats, Jetstar has chosen to go for two classes of service. Jetstar is the first airline to re-establish direct flights between Australia and Phuket, after Thai Airways and Australian Airlines pulled out due to low demand following the Dec 2004 tsunami.