Bangkok--21 Nov--Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation The Australian aviation market is entering an exciting new phase driven by the rising influence of Middle East airlines and LCCs. Emirates has unveiled a 50% increase in capacity to Australia over the next few years as it boosts frequencies from 49 to 70 by 2009 and deploys 489-seat A380 equipment to Sydney and Melbourne. A lack of aircraft prevented Emirates from exercising its full allocation of 84 services per week, but those rights could be quickly taken up as more of Emirates 248 widebody aircraft orders are delivered. Brisbane will be linked non-stop to Dubai for the first time from Oct-08 with a second daily service (with A340-500 equipment), while Sydney and Melbourne will gain a third daily (A380) service in 2009. Emirates’ robust expansion will steel the Qantas Group’s competitive response. Jetstar is the chosen vehicle to lead the Group’s charge back into Europe, with one-stop services planned via a Southeast Asian hub from 2009. Full details should be available, including the choice of hub (Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong) within six months. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, LCCs are waging an increasingly combative fare war ahead of Tiger Airways’ Australian launch later this week. Jetstar released 5,000 virtually free fares yesterday, as part of its campaign to retain its low fares leadership position in the market. Jetstar has undercut virtually all Tiger Airways offers to date. 5,000 seats a fraction of the number of the inventory European carriers typically release in similar campaigns, but it was sufficient for Jetstar to achieve almost blanket media coverage.Note to editors:About Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) was founded in 1990 and has since built an international reputation as the leading specialist aviation consultancy in the Asia Pacific, the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East regions. CAPA Consulting’s strategic advisory services are supported by the extensive information and data services provided by the Centre’s Market Research Unit to aviation industry leaders every day. The Centre also holds regular Aviation Leadership Summits, which provide unique opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences. Head Office, Sydney: Derek Sadubin, Chief Operating Officer Aurora Place, Level 4, 88 Phillip St Sydney PO Box N777, Grosvenor Place Sydney, NSW Australia 2000 Email: [email protected] Southeast Asia Regional Office: Richard Pinkham, Regional Director, Southeast Asia Email: [email protected] Indian Subcontinent and Middle East Office: Kapil Kaul, CEO Indian Subcontinent & Middle East Email: [email protected] UK/Europe Office: David Bentley, UK Associate Email: [email protected] North America Regional Office: Martti Raito, Regional Director, North America Email: [email protected] North Asia Representatives: Korea: Kyung-sup Lee. Email: [email protected] Japan: Reiko Sonoyama. Email: [email protected] More information is available on the Centre’s website: www.centreforaviation.com