• Increase of 28 return services to Tasmania per week
• Stronger links with Melbourne and Sydney
• Extra services split evenly between Hobart and Launceston

Jetstar has announced a major boost to its Hobart and Launceston services, with a total increase of more than 408,000 additional seats to and from Tasmania during the next financial year.

Announcing the capacity in Hobart today, along with Tasmania’s Minister for Tourism, Scott Bacon, Jetstar Group Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the additional flights responded to strong demand for improved access in-and-out of Tasmania.

“We understand the importance of strong connections to the mainland for Tasmania, both for residents and for the tourism industry,” Mr Koczkar said.

“We’re pleased to be bringing more services, more competition and more people to Hobart and Launceston with an extra 28 flights a week.

“On leisure routes especially, we know the positive impact that low fares can have on travel demand because it makes what is often an optional trip more affordable. The extra 408,000 seats we’re adding will mean more people choosing to take a break in Tasmania or visit friends and relatives.”

Mr Bacon said: At a time when household budgets are tight, low-cost airlines are a vital component in our push to get more tourists to visit Tasmania.

“These additional services to Hobart and Launceston will go a long way to ensuring more people can access affordable flights to Tasmania over the peak period.”

Today’s announcement is part of a major increase to Jetstar’s total domestic capacity by more than 1.2 million seats during 2012/13. Existing routes receiving additional capacity in addition to Hobart and Launceston include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Ballina-Byron, Newcastle, the Gold Coast and Cairns.

This latest boost comes after Jetstar added three services a week on its Melbourne-Launceston route in January 2012. Following today’s announcement, Jetstar expects to offer up to 242 services in-and-out of Tasmania per week in 2012/13.

In April 2012, Jetstar became the first airline to operate a commercial flight to Tasmania using sustainable aviation fuel, with a biofuel-powered A320 flying from Melbourne to Hobart and back.

Summary of Changes