• Jetstar introduces non-stop flights between Melbourne and Tokyo (Narita)
• The launch heralds the first direct service between the cities since 2008
• Victorian travellers set to benefit from convenient connections to Jetstar Japan network

Jetstar today announced it would become the first airline to offer a non-stop service between Melbourne and Tokyo (Narita) since September 2008.

Fares on the new direct route are expected to be released for sale before Christmas with flights to start from 29 April 2014.*

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Officer David Hall said the launch of the first direct low fares flights between Melbourne and Tokyo was great news for Victorian travellers.

“We know this is one of the largest unserved international markets in Australia and our bookings show that many Victorian customers are travelling to Tokyo via other ports in the network,” Mr Hall said.

“Jetstar Japan launched operations in Japan in May 2012 and is now the largest domestic carrier operating out of Narita Airport, offering flights to nine other cities across the country.

“Victorian travellers can look forward to convenient connections to great destinations such as Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo on the Jetstar Japan network.

“This announcement is also great news for the Victorian economy as we expect these services will bring up to 50,000 Japanese tourists to Melbourne each year.”

Melbourne Airport’s CEO Chris Woodruff said the airport was thrilled to see Jetstar supporting its home state by introducing a direct Melbourne-Tokyo service.

“It will be the first direct service between the cities in five years, providing Victorians with more choice while also making our great state more accessible for the growing Japanese market,” Mr Woodruff said.

To enable the new international services, Jetstar will suspend its three times weekly service between the Gold Coast and Osaka from 8 May 2014. This decision fits with Jetstar’s strategy to ensure it deploys aircraft on routes that meet market demand and to continue delivering low fares across the entire network.

Melbourne-Tokyo services will operate four times weekly on wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft fitted with business and economy class seating. Schedules and fares will be released in the coming weeks.

In November, Jetstar welcomed its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner into the fleet and is expecting to operate an all 787 long haul fleet by the end of 2015. As more 787s join the fleet, Jetstar will begin flying the game changing aircraft to more international destinations including Japan, Thailand and Hawaii.

Jetstar Japan is the largest low fares carrier in Japan, flying to 10 cities with a fleet of 18 Airbus A320s and last week celebrated carrying three million passengers domestically.

One sixth of the Qantas Group’s revenue is generated from operations to, from and within Asia.