Jetstar set to announce flights from Melbourne to Beijing

BUDGET airline Jetstar is today expected to announce flights from Melbourne to Beijing in a bid to boost ties with China.Industry speculation came after the airline said a "major tourism announcement" would be made today in Beijing by Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan and Jetstar Asia boss Chong Phit Liang.

The airline’s corporate communications adviser, James Aanensen, would not confirm details of the announcement."By 11:30am today, more information about what’s happening will be announced. At this stage, I cannot say anything," he said.Jetstar has also issued a media alert for a major announcement in Melbourne's Chinatown this morning.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Li Cunxin, internationally renowned author of Mao’s Last Dancer and 2009 Australian Father of the Year, will be at the announcement.

Jetstar, which operates under the Qantas umbrella, is expected to link Melbourne and Beijing via Singapore in a move towards the ever-expanding Asian market.The announcement comes after Jetstar announced last week that it would be adding its seventh mainland China destination, the manufacturing city of Ningbo, south of Shanghai.

Jetstar Asia boss Ms Chong told The Australian that China was a “very important” part of Jetstar’s Pan-Asian strategy, saying the airline wanted to expand into that market."We see real opportunity to expand our brand into this market with a product that resonates with the Chinese customer and the regional traveller," she said.

The airline now flies into China only between Shanghai and Sydney after trouble competing with the low-cost flights from the Chinese airlines.Today’s expected announcement also follows State Government claims yesterday that China is a ripe market for Victorian businesses.

Manufacturing, Exports and Trade Minister Richard Dalla-Riva said China’s recent five-year growth plan, which was released yesterday, andnbsp;was "good news" for Victoria with China being Victoria’s largest trading partner since 2006, worth $12.8 billion in 2009-2010.andnbsp;

Source =andnbsp;heraldsun.com.au