Low fares leader Jetstar will significantly boost tourism between China and Singapore with its new, low fares flying to Beijing*. (Flights subject to regulatory approval).

A new daily Melbourne-Singapore-Beijing* service announced today and starting from 24 November 2011 will add more than 8,000 seats a week from across the Jetstar network to Singapore where they will join the flight at Changi Airport.

For a limited time, Jetstar is offering a special one-way fare of just S$98 to celebrate the decision to fly to Beijing*.

The special sale runs for just two hours, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm today (13 July) at Jetstar.com (Terms & conditions apply).

After the initial two hour sale, a special one-way fare of $148 will be available from 3:30pm today (13 July) until 11.59pm tomorrow (14 July) at Jetstar.com.^

Beijing bound passengers and returning travellers to Beijing can enjoy a stopover in Singapore to shop or indulge in the myriad tastes of the city’s restaurants, generating an added source of tourism revenue.

Jetstar Asia CEO, Ms Chong Phit Lian, said Chinese visitors to Singapore typically spend as much as 60 per cent of their holiday budget on shopping excursions in the city - one of the world’s best retail havens.

“Singapore’s attractions such as Sentosa Island, the two new integrated resorts and the endless choices in local cuisines showcasing our multicultural city, are a strong draw for visitors,” she said.

“From Singapore, Jetstar now has three long haul services, to Melbourne, Auckland and Beijing – providing two different classes of comfort in Business and Economy,” Ms Chong added.

“Beijing also presents visitors with many attractions, including the world heritage listed Forbidden City, Summer Palace and of course, the Great Wall of China.

“And from Beijing, with China’s growing network of high speed rails, short trips can be made conveniently to other major cities, allowing passengers to maximise their trips to China,” she said.

Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan said the new service marks a significant milestone for the airline which has invested heavily in growing a Pan Asian network.

“Beijing represents a critical step in the growth of our brand in China and the continued rollout of our Pan Asian strategy,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Connecting Singapore and Beijing is a significant occasion because of the strong economic and tourism ties that exist between them,” he said.

“Beijing builds on our low fares leadership position in Singapore, continuing the expansion of our successful Singapore hub, now connecting with another 25 destinations from Singapore, such as Jakarta, Phuket, Melbourne and Auckland,” he said.

Beijing* will become Jetstar’s 9th Chinese destination joining Haikou, Shantou, Guilin, Hangzhou and Ningbo – all of which were launched in the past 18 months.

The new daily Singapore-Beijing* service will connect with Jetstar’s existing Melbourne-Singapore service via Jetstar’s Singapore hub, with a stop-over in Singapore on the inbound Australian sector.

For information, go to Jetstar.com

Melbourne-Singapore-Beijing* schedule commencing 24 November 2011.

Melbourne-Beijing* (via Singapore)

• * Melbourne – Singapore - JQ7 12:00 – 16:50
• * Singapore – Beijing - JQ7 18:35 – 00:50 (+1)

Beijing*-Melbourne (via Singapore)

• * Beijing – Singapore - JQ8 02:50 – 09:30
• * Singapore – Melbourne - JQ8 20:50 – 06:55 (+1)

*Subject to regulatory approval

^S$98 SALE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Available point of sale Singapore only, all inclusive one-way fare. The sale commences at 1.30pm (Singapore time) Wednesday 13 July 2011 and ends at 3.30pm on Wednesday 13 July 2011 unless seats sell out prior. This offer is for travel between 24 April 2012 & 23 May 2012. Conditions apply (fares subject to availability, selected days & flights only, excluding travel on public holiday & school holidays).

^S$148 SALE TERMS & CONDITIONS

Available point of sale Singapore only, all inclusive one-way fare. The sale commences at 3.30pm (Singapore time) Wednesday 13 July 2011 and ends at 11.59pm Thursday 14 July 2011 unless seats sell out prior. This offer is for travel between 24 November & 13 December 2011, 10 January 2012 & 18 January 2012 and 31 January 2012 & 7 March 2012. Conditions apply (fares subject to availability, selected days & flights only, excluding travel on public holiday & school holidays).

Jetstar’s all day, every day low fares from Singapore to Beijing* start from ^S$248, all-inclusive, one-way at Jetstar.com.