Bangkok--22 Dec--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar has bucked the trend for international travel from Japan, with the carrier reporting a 17 per cent growth in the number of Japan travellers on its Australia-Osaka route, a 36 point increase on figures released last week for Japan.
From July to September this year, Jetstar recorded 77,940 Japanese passenger segments — Japan to Australia, compared with 49,705 for the same time last year.*
Jetstar’s growth is contrary to the quarterly International Visitor Survey released last week, showing a 19.1 per cent fall in total visitor numbers out of Japan, compared to the same September quarter last year.
Jetstar’s Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan says Jetstar’s figures validate the impact of Jetstar’s sales and marketing strategy and the acceptance of the Jetstar product in the Japanese market, bucking not only the Japanese trend but also run contrary to other tourism markets into Australia.
“Though total numbers out of the rest of Japan are down, it just reinforces how well our strategy in Japan is working, and is great news ahead of the expansion of our flight network to Tokyo,” Mr Buchanan said.
“Total growth year on year for us in the September quarter was over 50%, but even on like for like services this 36 point increase over the data covering the total of Japan is a real validation of our strategy in market.
“Given the global economic crisis and its impact on tourism across the globe, it’s encouraging to know that our strategy of strong sales and marketing, all day every day low fares, and investment in product is producing these strong outcomes.
“As a business, we have already been able to justify adding an additional two flights a week into Tokyo from the Gold Coast even before our inaugural flight, making it a daily service** from 29 March 2009.
“Jetstar is committed to offering travellers all day every day low fares, and providing more choices of routes to fly. It seems that throughout the region more and more customers are jumping on board Jetstar and coming to Australia.”
The figures are ahead of Jetstar’s Tokyo debut, with flights to commence out of Gold Coast and Cairns this week. From 18 December Jetstar will commence direct flights from Gold Coast to Tokyo and from Cairns to Tokyo. From 29 March 2009, the five times weekly Gold Coast — Tokyo service will increase to a daily service**.
Jetstar will be the largest Qantas Group operator on the Australia — Japan market with 19 current weekly services growing to 21 weekly return flights from 29 March 2009.
*Jetstar’s growth excludes new routes started since the comparable time last year.
** Subject to regulatory approval
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James Best Aziam Burson-Marsteller 662-252-9871