Qantas Airways' low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways has launched long-haul international services after a year of preparation work, enabling it to again look at expansion at home.
Jetstar launched services in Australia in 2004 as a domestic no-frills carrier using narrowbody aircraft and made its first long-haul moves late in November.
It started with widebody services to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, followed by services to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Bali in Indonesia. Honolulu services were due to launch late in December and in 2007 Jetstar plans to serve Osaka and Nagoya in Japan.
Chief executive Alan Joyce says the airline has held back from expanding its domestic and short-haul international operations as it worked to launch long-haul services. But it is looking at expanding its Airbus narrowbody fleet again from 2008.
"We are looking at our plans for early 2008 and we are trying to source aircraft because we believe that there are growth opportunities in the short-haul market," says Joyce.
Jetstar currently operates 21 A320s domestically but only three A320s on short-haul international services. It uses A330-200s for its long-haul services, but they will be replaced with Boeing 787s from August 2008.
"We believe there are growth opportunities in the short-haul market"
Alan Joyce, chief executive, Jetstar
Read our full interview with Jetstar's Alan Joyce
Source: Airline Business
