Jetstar takes off to Kuala Lumpur; launch fares from AUD299
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Route Changes & Development,
Jetstar
(CAPA) Jetstar has launched to Malaysia, offering three times weekly Sydney-Kuala Lumpur services. The new international route for the Qantas Group represents Jetstars eighth long haul market following its successful introduction international services in Nov-06.
As the second largest source of visitors to Australia from South East Asia and a key regional and economic partner, Malaysia represents a growing international travel market. Between 2000 and 2006, outbound Australian resident travel to Malaysia soared 24%, including a 5% rise to 168,000 Australian visitors last calendar year (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics). Despite a slight decline of inbound visitor arrivals from Malaysia to Australia to 150,000 in 2006, Malaysian resident travel has risen 8% between Jul-07 and Jul-06 (Source: ABS)
Jetstar’s initial long haul fleet, now encompassing six A330-200 aircraft (303 seat configured), will offer two classes of service including StarClass, Jetstar’s business class. The airline will become the Qantas Group’s launch customer for the new generation B787 aircraft accepting 15 B787-8 aircraft from Aug-08 as its future long haul fleet.
Jetstar Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, said the airline continued to take a price leadership position in international leisure markets for Qantas offering choice for both Australian and international travellers.
“We can offer low fares by achieving the best cost base of all international carriers operating in Australia, replicating our significant cost leadership position in the Australian domestic market,” Mr Joyce said.
The new Sydney-Kuala Lumpur service has special economy web fares from AUD299 one-way and StarClass at AUD799 one way, plus Jetstar Holidays specials. Sale ends midnight (AEST) 10-Sep-07, unless seats sell out prior, and are available for travel between 01-May-08 and 21-Jun-08.
“The launch of Jetstar International flights directly between Sydney and Malaysia is a very positive development for the Qantas Group, bringing more choice to international long haul air travel as one of two strong brands for the future of Qantas,” Mr Joyce said.
“Jetstar has also become the fastest growing international airline operating to and from Australia. We are well placed over the next four years to operate a significant international network to a large number of Australian and overseas destinations through expansion achieved with our future B787 fleet.”
The LCC’s long haul international services launched in Nov-06 ahead of expectation and contributed a pre-tax profit of AUD3 million (excluding start up costs) for the 2007 financial year to 30-Jun-07.
Mr Joyce said Sydney Airport had become critical to its existing long haul international network with six overseas markets offering 25 weekly return services from Sydney by Nov-07 in addition to ten times weekly short haul return services to Christchurch.
“In response to market demand, from 28-Oct-07 Jetstar International will grow its direct Sydney-Honolulu frequencies from three to five times weekly and double its existing Sydney-Bali services from two to four times weekly,” Mr Joyce said.
Tourism and Transport Forum Managing Director and CEO, Christopher Brown, said Jetstar's services to Kuala Lumpur will ensure Australia is well placed to compete with other short-to-long haul destinations within the Asian region - competition that is being heavily driven by the LCC phenomenon.
"Malaysia is one of Australia's most mature tourism markets and Jetstar provides a welcome capacity boost. It has one of the highest repeat visitations of all tourism markets and the inbound market has rebounded strongly for the first seven months of this year after a soft 2006,” Mr Brown said.
Date posted: 10-Aug-07
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Jetstar takes off to Kuala Lumpur; launch fares from AUD299 
