• Jetstar introduces non-stop flights between Melbourne and Phuket*
• Additional services between Melbourne and Honolulu* in time for school holidays
• To celebrate Jetstar offers special launch fares to Phuket starting at $199**

Jetstar is giving Victorian holiday makers an early Christmas present by launching non-stop flights between Melbourne and Phuket* and additional services to Honolulu* just in time for the summer school holidays.

Direct flights on the Melbourne to Phuket route will start from 14 December 2013 operating every Saturday and Sunday with a third weekly service to be introduced from March 2014*.

Jetstar Group Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the launch of its newest long haul route delivered the first direct low fares flights for customers between the two destinations.

“We see a lot of customers booking flights to Phuket via Sydney or Singapore so we’ve decided to add a non-stop flight for Victorians,” Mr Koczkar said.

“We’re also very pleased to announce the introduction of an additional frequency between Melbourne and Honolulu over the busy peak season.”

From 19 December, Melbourne-Honolulu* will increase from three to four times a week while Melbourne-Singapore* will increase from five to six times a week as of 18 December. These services will be operated by Jetstar’s existing fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft until the end of January.

Mr Koczkar said the delivery of Jetstar’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner* later this month was also exciting news for travellers throughout the region.

“We pioneered low fares long haul travel when we launched our first flights into Asia seven years ago,” Mr Koczkar said.

“As we progressively transition our A330s to the more fuel efficient Boeing 787s, customers will continue to benefit from our low fares well into the future.”

Jetstar has 14 B787s on order, with three aircraft due to be delivered by the end of 2013. The aircraft features a carbon-composite fuselage which helps to reduce fuel burn by up to 20 per cent.

Earlier in the week, Jetstar announced its first international flights out of Adelaide would take off from 16 December with the introduction of a three times weekly service between Adelaide and Auckland*. Return services on the route will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday in an Airbus A320.

To enable the new international services, Jetstar will suspend its four weekly services between Singapore and Osaka from 1 November and three weekly services between Singapore and Beijing from 30 November.

Jetstar will continue to serve Osaka from Singapore, operating up to 14 weekly flights via Taipei and four per week via Manila.

As preparations ramp up for the Boeing 787’s entry into service, Jetstar is looking at a range of destinations to deploy capacity on and further international announcements will follow.

* Subject to government and regulatory approval.

SALE INFORMATION

To celebrate Jetstar will be offering sale fares on the Melbourne-Phuket route. To book visit jetstar.com

Melbourne – Phuket*

Flights are on sale from $199** one-way, and business class fares from $499** one-way today, Thursday 5 September from 2pm to 5pm (AEST), unless sold out prior. Sale fares are valid for travel between 4 February 2014 and 29 March 2014 and 6 May 2014 to 21 June 2014.

Standard lead-in fares will be available on Jetstar.com from 9am (AEST).

SUMMARY OF INCREASED CAPACITY

SUMMARY OF ROUTE SUSPENSIONS

* Subject to government and regulatory approval.

** Checked baggage not included. You can choose from 15kg to 40kg checked baggage for an additional $16.50-$45.00 per passenger per fare. Sale fares not available on all flights or days and conditions apply. Prices are based on payment by direct deposit/POLi, voucher or Jetstar MasterCard/Jetstar Platinum MasterCard for bookings through jetstar.com. For all other bookings, a Booking and Service Fee of $12.50 per passenger per flight applies.