Low fares leader Jetstar has launched an interline agreement across its group of airlines with leading European and oneworld carrier, Finnair, further expanding its sales footprint into the European market.

The partnership allows Finnair customers to purchase a Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Valuair or Jetstar Pacific flight as part of a single integrated transaction and travel itinerary and sold on a Finnair E-ticket.

The agreement follows similar Jetstar Group tie-ups in the past year including Air France / KLM and marks Jetstar’s 21st such airline partnership.

Finnair continues to have a significant presence in the travel market between Europe and Asia and in May 2011 will recommence daily non-stop flying between Helsinki and Singapore.

Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan made the announcement during an address to the Low Cost Airlines World Asia Pacific Conference in Singapore.

Mr Buchanan said the arrangement was a further enabler to expand Jetstar’s large Singaporean flying hub that serves 25^ destinations with attractive connections to its large Australian and New Zealand networks and also throughout Asia, including China, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Last month, Jetstar successfully commenced daily, two-class A330 flying between Singapore-Melbourne and from 17 March 2011 also begins a daily Singapore-Auckland* return A330 service.

Finnair operates to many of Jetstar’s Asian destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Osaka.

Jetstar Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the Jetstar Group’s agreement with the major Nordic carrier supported its Pan Asian growth plans and would promote new one-stop links to Australia and New Zealand via Singapore for Finnair customers out of Finland and other European centres.

“Such improved access and capacity to Australia and New Zealand services will enable the trans Tasman tourism sector to better tap into the niche, but growing Nordic tourism export market, now estimated at over $500 million and approaching 60,000 annual visitors to Australia,” Mr Koczkar said.

Finnair Vice President Alliances & Commercial Partnerships, Mr Paavo Virkkunen said the Finnair clientele in Northern Europe will greatly benefit from the Australasian links provided by the Jetstar service network.

“The new interline agreement makes travelling to and from the destinations covered by the new partnership easy and convenient, and provides real value for travelling customers,” Mr Virkkunen said.

For passengers travelling under the agreement, Jetstar will accommodate the Finnair baggage allowance, and for passengers connecting international to international flights, bags will be through tagged and on select services, complimentary onboard offerings such as meals and comfort packs will be provided.

^ Singapore-Hangzhou (from 22 March 2011) services subject to regulatory approval

* Singapore-Auckland (from 17 March 2011) subject to regulatory approval