Jetstar prepares for November inaugural flights

Jetstar launches international services with lowest one-way fares to points in Australia.

Jetstar announce low-cost service between Bangkok ? Melbourne and Phuket ? Sydney in November with fares starting at around Bt8,000 one way. Surcharges apply raising the net fare to around Bt12,000 one-way.

From 23 November, the airline will launch a three weekly service from Melbourne to Bangkok using a 303-seat Airbus 330, while the following day, on 24 November the airline will launch a three weekly service between Sydney and Phuket.

In Bangkok , Jetstar general manager of pricing and offline channels David Koczkar said travellers who want to travel beyond the two Australian cities could buy low-priced fares on the website at around Bt 4,000 one way. The airline does not add surcharges on its Australian website.

Mr Koczkar expects the airline should achieve the load factor of around 60 to 70% during the first year or 6,500 seats sold out of an available 10,908 seats on each of the route.

Jetstar will start the services using up to six Airbus A330-200 leased from its parent company Qantas but by 2008 it plans to make the gradual transition to a fleet of 12 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners when delivery of the new generation aircraft begins in earnest.

The airline announced last May its intention to launch long haul international service to Thailand ( Bangkok and Phuket), Vietnam ( Ho Chi Minh City ), Japan ( Osaka ), Indonesia ( Bali ) and United States ( Honolulu ).

Primary booking channels for Jetstar flights will be though its website, and through its appointed agent, Holiday Tours and Travel, a member of the Qantas Group (75% owned by the Qantas Group). HTT will operate a Jetstar call-centre handling all JQ inquires Monday to Friday 0830-1730 and Saturday 0830 ? 1230. Reservations at 02 267 5125.

Sourced from TTR Daily.