Jetstar International ahead of schedule
Reports today suggest that Jetstar International will be off and flying earlier than expected, with a November 06 launch now a real possibility and tickets on sale from June.
The international offshoot was initially slated to get four A330-200s from Qantas to tide it over until state-of-the-art Boeing 787s start arriving in late 2008.
But executives revealed yesterday that it would also get two new A330-200s next year.
“We are more and more confident that Jetstar will start this calendar year, and it’s going to have four A330-200 aircraft, and we’re buying another two A330-200s to put in to Jetstar’s initial operation for its international flying,” QF chief executive Geoff Dixon said.
It is understood Jetstar is initially eyeing routes such as Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei, Phuket, Bali and Honolulu.
The airline is not expected to start flying to the US mainland and Europe until it receives its fleet of 787s.
“If you look at the next three years, with 10 aircraft coming in, the international business could be as big as the (Jetstar) domestic business,” chief executive Alan Joyce said. “So that’s huge growth profile.”
“We have a firm plan,” said Mr Joyce, who is now responsible for operations at all three Jetstar airlines. “We’re talking to a lot of airports and state governments to make sure we have the incentive schemes and support packages for those destinations. We’re making good progress on that and we’ll be in a position in May to make some announcements.”
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