• Up to 15,800 extra domestic seats per week
• Stimulating demand for local tourism through low fares
• New aircraft based in Melbourne and Gold Coast

Jetstar is ramping up its low fare domestic services by adding more than 44 extra return flights a week to Australia’s top travel spots.

By April, Jetstar will offer over 12,000 extra seats a week for travel between Melbourne and cities like Cairns, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Launceston. In addition, Jetstar will introduce a 12th daily Sydney-Gold Coast service and an extra three weekly Adelaide-Perth services, for a total of up to 15,800 extra domestic seats a week.

The increase comes as Jetstar bases its 13th A320 aircraft in Victoria and its fourth new A320 aircraft in Gold Coast, creating employment for pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and other support roles.

CEO of the Jetstar Group, Bruce Buchanan, said the additional capacity was part of the airline’s commitment to affordable domestic and overseas travel choice.

“Jetstar is now the largest low cost carrier in the Asia Pacific region, which gives us the scale we need to offer people affordable travel options across our network and support local tourism.”

Jetstar Australia & New Zealand CEO, David Hall, said consumer demand for budget travel remained strong, especially at the right price points,” Mr Hall said.

“We’re pleased to offer Australians more seats to go on holiday or visit friends and family. This extra capacity is great news for travellers wanting to visit Victoria from other states, as well as the Australian tourism industry generally.”

Tourism Australia CEO Andrew McEvoy said: “On the back of two successful quarters, we’re starting to see domestic tourism growing again and Jetstar’s expansion plans will undoubtedly be a further boost, adding more seats and opening up more regional flying options for both Australians and the many thousands of international travellers who use Melbourne as their entry point in to our country.

“The low cost model has proved very successful in stimulating the air travel and tourism, and I have no doubt that this will have a positive impact by getting more people to explore more of our great country.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher welcomed the announcement, and said Jetstar’s expansion of services to-and-from Melbourne showed demand to visit the world’s most liveable city is high.

"Jetstar’s faith in Melbourne is justified as shown by the millions of visitors we attract every year. Melbourne has the best of everything - food and wine, theatre, sport, major events and exhibitions - and these extra flights will ensure even more people get to experience what our great city has to offer," Ms Asher said.

Melbourne-Sydney travel will be boosted by two extra daily return flights, while an extra three flights a week to Launceston will help stimulate Tasmanian tourism, in addition to the record capacity Jetstar is currently running into Hobart.

Holidaymakers seeking time in the sun will be offered more flights to Queensland, including four new return services to each of the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns. Return flights to Adelaide and Perth services will be increased by three a week.

The ramping up of domestic services sits alongside Jetstar’s recent increase of international flights during the peak summer period.

Summary of additional domestic flights

Route - New Schedule - Start date

• Melbourne-Gold Coast - 53 per week (4 extra weekly) - Commenced 22 Dec 2011
• Melbourne-Launceston - Up to 31 per week (3 extra weekly)-  Commenced 21 Jan 2012
• Melbourne-Sydney - 8 daily (2 extra services daily) 1 additional daily - commenced on 21 Jan 2012
  • 1 additional daily - from 1 April 2012
• Melbourne-Perth - 21 per week (3 extra weekly) - Commenced 21 Jan 2012
• Melbourne-Brisbane - 24 per week (3 extra weekly) - 1 April 2012
• Sydney-Gold Coast - 84 per week (extra daily) - 1 April 2012
• Adelaide-Perth - 10 per week (3 extra weekly) - 1 April 2012
• Melbourne-Adelaide - 24 per week (3 extra weekly) - 1 April 2012
• Melbourne-Cairns - Up to 25 per week (4 extra weekly) - 1 April 2012