Bangkok--25 Dec--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Jetstar has today celebrated the arrival of its first two A330-200 inaugural services from Cairns and the Gold Coast to Tokyo (Narita), increasing the airline’s weekly services to a total of 19 direct flights between Australia and Japan each week.
Jetstar is now the largest Australian airline operating between Japan and Australia, offering a new five times weekly Gold Coast-Tokyo (Narita) service and daily Cairns-Tokyo (Narita) service in addition to its existing daily Osaka-Gold Coast-Sydney service.
This will grow to a total of 21 weekly services on the Australia-Japan route from 29 March 2009, when the low fares airline further expands its two class Gold Coast-Tokyo (Narita)* services from 5 times to a daily (7 times weekly) return service, subject to regulatory approval.
Jetstar’s Gold Coast-Tokyo services also offer five times weekly connections Gold Coast-Sydney with a wide bodied tag service.
The Gold Coast and Cairns are two of Australia’s premier tourist destinations and are popular places on many Japanese traveler’s itineraries.
From the Gold Coast, Jetstar flies direct to Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Christchurch in New Zealand and from 29 April 2009*, to Auckland in New Zealand, giving Japanese customers a range of low fares options to other exciting holiday destinations as part of the one trip. From Cairns, Japanese travelers can access direct low fares to Darwin, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth from 6 February 2009.
Today’s inaugural services mark the airline’s first foray into eastern Japan, having first commenced services in March 2007 on the Australia-Japan route with at daily services to the Kansai region (Osaka) and prior services to the Chubu region (Nagoya).
Jetstar now offers a total of 5,500 seats into Queensland from Japan each week, in addition to seamless access onto Sydney.
Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said Jetstar was committed to continuing to provide convenient and affordable travel for Japanese travelers looking to holiday in Australia.
“The current economic conditions, including the marked improvement in the exchange rate for Japanese visitors venturing to Australia, as well as Jetstar’s every day low fare offerings on the route, are creating some of the best value for money holidays seen in almost a decade.
“Since we commenced between Australia and Japan with services from Osaka in March 2007, more than half a million passengers have travelled on our Japan flights, and we look forward to its continued future growth,” Mr Buchanan said.
“Jetstar has been encouraged by our existing Australia-Japan services which are meeting our expetation.
“Jetstar continues to experience a positive consumer and trade response to our services. We also have a significantly lower fuel surcharge of any airline flying between Australia and Japan and we continue to develop and enhance the product we offer Japanese travelers.
“Most recently Jetstar has introduced an all-new Japanese specific menu for StarClass passengers traveling between Australia and Japan.
“We continue to build on our reputation of offering award winning product and service style, low fares and operational excellence as part of the Qantas Group.”
Jetstar earlier this year opened a new office in Tokyo to support the airline’s growing activity in market in partnership with Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Gold Coast Tourism, Gold Coast Airport and the Cairns Airport.
In the coming year the airline will spend over AUD $20 million on marketing in Japan to further support its services and destinations.
Jetstar today hosted a significant Government and Tourism leaders delegation on board its inaugural flights from Australia, headed by Queensland Tourism Minister Hon. Desley Boyle MP.
The delegation took part in official celebrations at Narita International Airport, which also featured an appearance by Jetstar Ambassador and popular Japanese celebrity ‘Becky’ (Rebecca-Eri Rayborn).
Jetstar’s new Tokyo (Narita) — Cairns daily service replaces previous Qantas services on the route.
Jetstar’s Tokyo (Narita) — Gold Coast service, is a new Qantas Group international route.
Jetstar’s Tokyo services will be operated by Jetstar’s long haul fleet of A330-200 aircraft, seat configured for 303 passengers in two classes, economy and Jetstar’s premium cabin StarClass.
*Subject to regulatory approval.
Media enquiries:
Simon Westaway GM Corporate Relations - Jetstar Airways M: (+61) 401 994 627
Simone Pregellio Corporate Communications Mgr — Jetstar M: (+61) 418 981 470
James Best Aziam Burson-Marsteller 662-252-9871