Jetstar will increase its number of services between Melbourne and Hobart to record levels this summer to encourage even more travellers to holiday on the Apple Isle.

From 22 December 2011 Jetstar will add a daily return Melbourne-Hobart service, totaling a record 42 weekly flights between the two capital cities. A one-way Starter fare starts from $79 one-way at Jetstar.com.

Jetstar will also expand its Melbourne-Launceston services, adding a further three services per week for the holiday period, bringing the total number of flights to up to five times daily (31 times per week).

Jetstar Group Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the low fares leader hoped to spark a summer tourism boom for Tasmania.

“Tasmania is already a popular destination to visit. With 3,600 more Jetstar seats per week on offer to and from Tasmania and our everyday low fares, this has the potential to generate even greater tourism visitation,” Mr Koczkar added.

Mr Koczkar said that according to the latest Tourism Tasmania statistics, domestic visitors spent on average $1703 per person when they holidayed on the island in the year ending June 2011.

“Based on the average tourist spend, these additional flights have the potential to deliver millions of dollars for the local economy.”

Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer Rod Parry welcomed the additional Jetstar capacity, saying: “The additional Jetstar services into and out of Hobart are welcomed by Hobart Airport and the Tasmanian travelling public.

“Jetstar has responded to the needs of the market and provided additional flights between Hobart and Melbourne. We congratulate them on their response and look forward to further growth into the future,” Mr Parry said.

Jetstar now operates a total of up to 17 services per day to Hobart and Launceston from Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Hobart schedule from 22 December – 30 January 2011

Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Hobart 

• JQ701 0650 – 0805 Daily 
• JQ703 0815 – 0930 Daily 
• JQ705* 1000 – 1115 Daily 
• JQ707 1150 – 1305 Daily 
• JQ709 1550 – 1705 Daily 
• JQ715 1920 - 2035 Daily 

Hobart-Melbourne

• JQ700 0835 – 0950 Daily
• JQ702 1000 – 1115 Daily
• JQ704 1335 - 1450 Daily
• JQ706* 1145 – 1300 Daily
• JQ708 1735 – 1850 Daily
• JQ710 2105 - 2220 Daily

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Hobart schedule from 30 January 2011

Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Hobart 

• JQ701 0650 – 0805 Daily 
• JQ703 0815 – 0930 Daily 
• JQ707 1150 – 1305 Daily 
• JQ709 1550 – 1705 Daily 
• JQ711* 1700 – 1815 Daily 
• JQ715 1920 - 2035 Daily 

Hobart-Melbourne

• JQ700 0835 – 0950 Daily
• JQ702 1000 – 1115 Daily
• JQ704 1335 - 1450 Daily
• JQ708 1735 – 1850 Daily
• JQ712* 1845 – 2000 Daily
• JQ710 2105 - 2220 Daily

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Launceston schedule from 22 December – 30 January 2011

Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Launceston 

• JQ735 0720 – 0825 
• JQ737 1210 – 1315 
• JQ733* 1350 – 1455 Mon, Thurs, Sat 
• JQ739 1635 – 1740 
• JQ743 2100 – 2205 

Launceston-Melbourne

• JQ736 0855 - 1000
• JQ740 1435 - 1450
• JQ738* 1525 – 1630 Mon, Thurs, Sat
• JQ742 1810 - 1915
• JQ744 2235 – 2340

*Additional service