Bangkok--20 Mar--Aziam Burson-Marsteller Profit surge supported by strong capacity and passenger growth Qantas Group Airline Jetstar, one of the first value based long haul carriers in the world, has released details of a record profit before tax result for the 2008 financial half year of AUD$113 million, rising fourfold from the prior year. For the 2008 financial half year to 31 December 2007, Jetstar achieved a fourfold rise in pre-tax earnings supported by strong growth in capacity and customer demand creating a sharp rise in passengers carried across both its domestic and expanding international operations Jetstar’s passenger revenue increased by AUD$250 million or 53.6 per cent, largely driven by a 62.9 per cent increase in capacity, arising from Jetstar’s continued expansion of its short and long haul fleet. Jetstar’s international services grew by a significant 376 per cent as measured by Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) for the financial half year as a result of its being the fastest growing international airline operating to and from Australia. Total passenger volumes increased by 19.5 per cent to 4.5 million for the half year. Jetstar’s domestic seat factor for the 2008 financial half year Australia was 83 per cent (up 2.5 points) with an international seat factor of 73.6 per cent, up 4.2 points on the prior half-year. Jetstar international services in the half-year carried 759,000 passengers, up 218 per cent. Jetstar’s net expenditure cost per ASK was AUD6.15 cents, an improvement of 16.3 per cent on the prior period or 19 per cent improvement excluding fuel costs. Total cost per ASK was AUD7.02 cents — an Australian industry-leading performance. On a total expenditure basis, cost per ASK reduced 14.8 per cent versus prior half year. Jetstar has achieved an Australian domestic market share of 15.2 per cent (by ASKs) to September 2007. Jetstar’s market share on domestic routes it currently operates is 21.6 per cent of ASKs. Mr Alan Joyce Chief Executive Officer of Jetstar said: “This is yet another record result for Jetstar, Australia’s fastest growing international carrier, as reflected in significant increases in passenger numbers and revenue.” “We are the only value-based model established by a full service airline to have reported profits for every year since start-up.” “These results provide Jetstar with an excellent financial backdrop to our planned growth of both our short haul and long haul fleets over the next few years.” “We have already grown threefold since we started flying in 2004 and within the next three years Jetstar will become ten times its initial size as measured by Available Seat Kilometres,” Mr Joyce said. Mr Joyce said that the results were especially encouraging given the many significant challenges in the overall industry including increased competition, higher fuel costs, protracted turmoil in global financial markets. Jetstar’s capital expenditure program remains very robust with firm commitments in place for future fleet orders of up to 108 A320s/A321s and 15 B787s. Additional highlights of Jetstar’s operations in 2007 and the first quarter of 2008 include: In July 2007 Jetstar was named in the 2007 World Airline Survey as: World’s Best Low Cost Airline Best Low Cost Airline — Australia/Pacific Best Cabin Staff — Australia/New Zealand (all airlines in region) CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) named Jetstar, Low Cost Carrier of the Year 2007 in the Asia Pacific Region Jetstar Carbon Offset Program is attracting industry leading take up amongst Australian consumers since its launch in September 2007. Approximately 12 per cent of all current Jetstar passengers are choosing to offset their flight emissions across both Australian domestic and international services. Future consideration of an international hub operation for Jetstar in Asia to support proposed future value based services between Australia, Asia and a select number of Southern European markets. Bangkok is one of five cities being assessed. Introduction of a fleet of Airbus A321s during the second half of this financial year onto a number of Australian domestic markets. The first A321s will be based in Melbourne. Media Enquiries: Simone Pregellio Corporate Communications Manager M: +61 (0) 418 981470 James Best Aziam Burson-Marsteller M: +66 8319 84722