• Jetstar to launch four times weekly return services between Melbourne and Uluru from 29 June 2014
• Jetstar’s existing Sydney-Uluru route increased to a daily service from 28 June 2014
• From 29 June 2014, Jetstar will offer just under 4,000 seats a week on its Uluru markets

Jetstar has today announced it will commence a four times weekly return service between Melbourne and Ayers Rock Airport (Uluru) from 29 June 2014.

The move sees Jetstar become the only scheduled carrier to offer nonstop flights between the two destinations.

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said this was a great development for both the Victorian and Northern Territory tourism industries.

“We know Uluru is one of Australia’s most highly sought after holiday destinations and we’re confident our low fares will help drive tourism growth to the region,” Mr Hall said.

“History has shown we have a great track record of generating new market demand through our low fares and we’re excited about the role we’re playing to strengthen the local tourism industry.

“We’ve seen a lot of international travellers connect on to our existing services from Sydney to Uluru and we’d expect to see this pattern continue from Melbourne.

“This is good news for the Victorian economy as we’re likely to see more international travellers combining a stopover in Melbourne with their visit to Uluru.”

The launch of Jetstar’s newest domestic route comes as the low fares carrier also announced an increase in frequency on the Sydney-Uluru market from four times weekly to a daily service.

“Since launching the Sydney to Uluru route last year, we’ve seen a steady increase in demand on the market and we’re introducing some additional capacity in response,” Mr Hall added.

“We’ve always been really clear that we’ll move quickly and readily to take advantage of opportunities, and today’s announcement is yet another example of this principle in action.”

Voyages CEO Andrew Williams said he was thrilled with the announcement of Jetstar’s new services to Uluru, the spiritual heart of Australia.

“We see it as a great endorsement of the growing popularity of the destination, both domestically and internationally,” Mr Williams said.

“Ayers Rock Resort has undergone a complete rejuvenation including hotel refurbishments and initiatives such as the introduction of free daily Indigenous guest experiences and new dining and touring options.

“Our new conference facility, the Uluru Meeting Place, has also proved extremely popular, winning the Australian Tourism Award for Business Tourism.”

Return flights from Melbourne will operate each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with a flight time of three hours and 20 minutes. For the daily service from Sydney, the flight time is three hours and 40 minutes. All services to and from Uluru are operated by an Airbus A320 in a single class.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Launch sale fares

To celebrate the launch of the Melbourne–Uluru route, Jetstar fares are on sale now for $99* one-way. Sales fares available online until 11:59pm (ADST) 12 March 2014, unless sold out prior, for travel between 16 July 2014 - 17 September 2014 and 21 October 2014 - 17 December 2014. One-way lead-in fares from Melbourne to Uluru start from $169*. From Sydney, one-way lead-in fares start from $189.*

* Checked baggage can be added for an additional fee. Fares quoted not available on all flights or days and conditions apply. Prices are based on payment by direct deposit/POLi, voucher or Jetstar MasterCard/Jetstar Platinum MasterCard for bookings through jetstar.com. For all other bookings, a Booking and Service Fee of $8.50 per passenger per fare applies.

Voyages accommodation deal

Voyages Ayers Rock Resort has released a sale to celebrate the launch of the new Jetstar services. The Welcome Jetstar deal starts at two nights for just $199 per person twin share including full buffet breakfast. On sale from now until 16 March 2014 and is valid for travel from 16 July 2014 to 31 March 2015 – high season rate applies for travel 16 Jul to 31 Oct 2014 2 nights starting from $238 per person twin share including full buffet breakfast. For more details or to make a booking go to ayersrockresort.com.au/sale or call 1300 134 044. Conditions apply.

About Jetstar Australia and New Zealand

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand (subsidiary of the Qantas Group) is currently the third largest domestic Australian airline (by market share) and fifth largest international airline (by capacity share) serving international routes to-and-from Australia. Jetstar operates both international and domestic services in New Zealand and is the country’s second-largest airline, representing more than 20 per cent of the domestic market share.