• Jetstar becomes the fastest airline group in Asia Pacific to build its fleet to 100 aircraft
• Special aircraft livery features Jetstar customers and celebrates 100 million passengers
• The first Australian-based Sharklet-equipped A320 aircraft prepares for take off

Jetstar today celebrated reaching 100 aircraft, a milestone reflecting the impressive scale of the airline across Asia Pacific.

Since launching in 2004, Jetstar has grown from a small domestic carrier – with just 14 aircraft flying up and down the east coast of Australia – to become the fastest airline brand in Asia Pacific to grow its fleet to 100 aircraft.

Jetstar Group Chief Executive Officer Jayne Hrdlicka said this milestone was only possible because of the 400,000 passengers who choose to fly with the Jetstar Group each week.

“With the benefit of our common fleet, we’re able to carry more people, to more places, more often than any other low cost airline in Australia,” Ms Hrdlicka said.

“While many airlines have tried their hand in the Australian low fares market, Jetstar has been the mainstay for the best priced fares since launching in 2004.”

To commemorate this milestone, Jetstar has applied a special 100th aircraft livery on the newest of its Sharklet-equipped A320s.

The livery features 132 people doing the Jetstar star jump including passengers and ambassadors from across Asia Pacific representing the five Jetstar branded airlines.

“This aircraft also celebrates the huge achievement of carrying more than 100 million passengers in our nine year history,” Ms Hrdlicka added.

“In that time we have brought millions of people together and connected families and friends across Asia Pacific.

“The delivery of this new A320, with its remarkable wing-tip technology, reflects our on-going commitment to invest in modern aircraft and innovation to benefit our customers.

“The distinctive wing-tips bring about higher fuel efficiencies and help us to continue to deliver everyday low fares to our customers.”

The Jetstar Group now has three aircraft fitted with the fuel saving Sharklets – one each for Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan and now Jetstar Australia and New Zealand.

The aircraft with the special 100th livery registered VH-VFN will be flown on major domestic routes and over the coming months and is expected to visit New Zealand, Singapore and Japan.

Ms Hrdlicka said the Jetstar Group’s commitment to innovation and exporting its expertise to other markets showed the strength and calibre of the group’s team members.

“Throughout its short history, Jetstar has taken low fares travel to new frontiers, expanding into markets never previously served by low cost carriers,” Ms Hrdlicka said.

“It truly is a great Australian success story today, and there are great growth opportunities over the coming years, as Jetstar continues to develop across the world’s most exciting aviation markets.”

The Jetstar Group is made up of Jetstar Airways (subsidiary of the Qantas Group) in Australia and New Zealand, Jetstar Asia in Singapore, Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam and Jetstar Japan in Japan.

Subject to regulatory approval, Jetstar Hong Kong will fly to destinations in Greater China, Japan, South Korea and South East Asia later this year.

Photos from the event can be downloaded for reproduction at this link.