Jetstar announced on August 8 that it will can its direct Melbourne-Honolulu service after just eight months because ticket sales failed to meet targets, with low seat factors and operational performance.
The twice-a-week Airbus A330 service will end on October 28 to be replaced by direct flights from Sydney, where the number of services to the US holiday destination will be increased to five a week.
Jetstar will continue to operate flights from Melbourne to Bangkok, Bali and Christchurch, he said, adding that the company was also working with Tourism Victoria to develop other international services from Melbourne, including a planned Melbourne-Athens service late next year.
Jetstar passengers booked on Honolulu flights from Melbourne after October 28 will be moved to Qantas and Jetstar domestic for their flights to Sydney where they will board their flight to Hawaii.
The Melbourne-Honolulu service, begun on December 29 last year, was the last of the international flights Jetstar launched from Melbourne.
It had a troubled start, with about 300 Australians stranded in Honolulu on one occasion, costing the Qantas offshoot more than $1 million to repatriate them after two of its jets developed faults.
Report by The Mole
