Asia’s budget airlines eye growth, trade barriers

The Associated Press reports that Asia’s budget airlines should benefit from bargain hunting travelers amid a global economic slowdown, as long as government barriers don’t stifle expansion of this still young business, industry experts said. Low-cost carriers are poised to take advantage of falling fuel costs and increased demand for cheap fares as full-service airlines [...]

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Jetstar scraps fuel surcharge, clients save up to $68

The Australian reports that JetStar has scrapped fuel surcharges on its international routes, saving passengers up to A$68 each way. The airline announced it would remove the levy from its trans-Tasman flights as well as its short-haul and long-haul international services. Jetstar has already removed fuel surcharges on its domestic flights.

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Budget airline Jetstar set to expand

TVNA reports that budget airline Jetstar is looking for up to 250 new pilots, cabin crew and ground staff for its expanding New Zealand business. The Qantas offshoot flies to Australia from Christchurch, and will add transtasman services to Auckland from the end of April. CE Bruce Buchanan said about 100 staff would be employed [...]

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Australian discount domestic airfares fall to 17-year low

The Australian newspaper reports that domestic airfares have hit their lowest level since 1992, according to a new survey that shows the cheapest fares are nearly 30% lower than a year ago. The 17-year low, revealed in figures for January from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, is further evidence that bargain-hunting travellers [...]

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Jetstar announces $1 fares on NZ domestic routes

Jetstar Asia & Valuair Comments (0)

NZPA reports that Jetstar has officially announced its assault on the domestic New Zealand air travel market with flights between Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.
The Qantas subsidiary will start with two A320 aircraft from June 10 operating four city pair markets, before introducing a third A320 from June 24, subject to regulatory approval. The airline is promising to beat any competitor by 10% when booking at a similar date or time. As part of the launch it will offer one-way internet-booked flights for $1 for travel between July 22 and September 22. The $1 flights will be available for two hours from midday today unless seats sell out.

Prahok @ February 17, 2009

Jetstar goes New Zealand

Other Airlines Comments (0)

Business Day reports that Qantas is replacing its New Zealand domestic service with subsidiary Jetstar in a reduction aimed at the slowing travel market. Jetstar will take over routes servicing Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown, while cutting its Rotorua route, the company said. As part of the changes, Qantas’s New Zealand subsidiary Jetconnect, which flies under the Qantas markings, will no longer operate through New Zealand, instead adding capacity across the Tasman Sea. In total, Qantas is adding 12 more flights in New Zealand, although it would not provide a tally of total seating changes. The New Zealand domestic market is dominated by Air New Zealand, with Virgin Blue subsidiary Pacific Blue also offering low-cost services.

Prahok @ February 17, 2009

Jetstar could add fourth airline to main trunk routes

Other Airlines Comments (0)

NZPA reports that a price war on New Zealand’s main domestic airline routes is likely, with Jetstar set to announce plans to join the market. Some in the travel industry expect Jetstar to reinstate some of the off-peak services between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch that were abandoned last month by its parent airline Qantas. “It would be a fairly safe bet that they will go main trunk,” an industry executive said in The Dominion Post. That would mean four airlines - Air New Zealand, Qantas, Pacific Blue and Jetstar - flying between Auckland and Christchurch. Jetstar’s staff costs are significantly lower than Qantas’s and well below Air New Zealand’s, giving it a price advantage. Jetstar was not commenting on details of the announcement, expected to be released within days.

Prahok @ February 16, 2009