• Operational launch web sale fares now available from A$249 one way

Low fares leader Jetstar has committed to strongly build on its Pan-Asian flying operations with the delivery of an Asian long haul hub in Singapore, first served today by a daily A330-200 service between Melbourne and the city state.

Jetstar has expanded its two-class A330 fleet for new Pan-Asian services and offer flyers affordable, direct access from Melbourne to Singapore and beyond to 22 Asian destinations on its network.

Now operating over 350 weekly return services to six overseas and 14 domestic markets flown direct from Melbourne Airport, Jetstar has this week introduced three new international routes in an unprecedented 100 per cent lift in its overseas flying from Victoria. This includes:

• Melbourne – Singapore A330 Daily Launching today
• Melbourne – Queenstown A320 2 times weekly Launching today
• Melbourne – Auckland A320 Daily Launch 13 Dec

Jetstar has also launched year round Melbourne – Queenstown A320 services to operate twice-weekly to New Zealand’s iconic adventure playground with one way web fares starting from $199.

Jetstar has celebrated the commencement of Melbourne-Singapore A330 flying with one-way sale fares to Singapore from A$249# (Economy, JetSaver Light) and A$699 (StarClass) at Jetstar.com for a limited period. (#Terms & Conditions apply. See Jetstar.com and background in release)

The low fare leader’s Melbourne to Singapore web fares at Jetstar.com start from A$349 one way and are 30 per cent less compared to lead-in fares offered by our competitors.

Jetstar Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said in commencing its long anticipated A330 hub in Singapore, Jetstar will offer even greater scale to its Asian operations and achieve new passenger growth through its commercial partnerships including Qantas from its major Asian hub.

“Jetstar continues to grow strongly as we build our Pan-Asian presence,” Mr Koczkar said.

“As the world’s first and leading value based long haul airline, under our Pan Asian network plans we will now accelerate our growth by operating regular A330 services through our Asian hub at Singapore Changi Airport.

“This approach has us well placed to best participate in the fast growing and now largest global aviation market that is Asia, and further expand with first time long haul flying from Singapore.

“Singapore alone is Australia’s sixth largest tourism export market and amongst Melbourne’s largest visiting markets from Asia.”

Mr Koczkar said the important Melbourne-Singapore route offered a direct air link between Jetstar’s Australian and Singapore operations and provide customers multiple connections in Asia through its Singapore hub including destinations within China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

“Jetstar now directly connects to six international destinations from Melbourne and Victoria remains increasingly central to Jetstar’s growth plans,” Mr Koczkar said.

“Our international flight growth from Melbourne Airport is connected to strong leisure destination demand and now more flying through our Singapore hub into Asia and on the trans Tasman route.”

All Jetstar fares and Jetstar Holidays packages are covered by the Jetstar Price Beat Guarantee whereby Jetstar will beat any competitor by 10 per cent. (Conditions Apply# See Jetstar.com).

Victorian Tourism Minister Louise Asher welcomed today’s inaugural Melbourne-Singapore flight, together with other new Jetstar Melbourne services that commenced this week.

“Jetstar is to be commended for making Melbourne, and Victoria, even more accessible to domestic and international visitors to our great state through its investment in this extra capacity,” Ms Asher said.

“Businesses throughout Victoria, including accommodation, restaurants and other tourism operators, will be the major beneficiaries from the additional revenue afforded from so many extra tourists.”

Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said Jetstar continues to be a key driver behind the growth of tourism in Victoria.

“Since commencing services in 2004 Jetstar have made an outstanding contribution to the growth of Melbourne’s domestic and international market, putting affordable travel within the reach of more Victorians,” Mr Woodruff said.

“Melbourne Airport is proud to be Jetstar’s home and is well-poised to support their continued growth into the future with our $330 million international terminal expansion.”

Jetstar’s two-class A330-200 fleet includes StarClass, Jetstar’s international business class. A Qantas code share will also operate on the Melbourne-Singapore route.

Jetstar’s existing two-class A330-200 fleet flies long haul services now link Australia directly to Asia and the Asia Pacific destinations of Bali, Tokyo, Osaka, Honolulu, Bangkok and Phuket. This week Jetstar commenced daily Melbourne-Auckland A320 flying on the competitive trans Tasman route.