Bangkok--9 Dec--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Low fares leader Jetstar will bring thousands of new tourists into Phuket from next week when it commences its twice daily A320 service from Singapore and additional A330 holiday services from Australia on 15 December 2009.
Having commercially launched in August this year, the new A320 services from Singapore starting 15 December 2009 will introduce over 5,000 new seats of capacity in to and out of Phuket International Airport.
In addition, Jetstar’s Australian operations will boost wide-body services from Sydney to Phuket from a three times weekly offering to a new five times weekly offering to accommodate the growing number of Australian travelers seeking to the enjoy the famous Thailand beaches over the holiday season.
In total Jetstar Group services will add over extra 6200 weekly seats of capacity in to and out of Phuket over the peak holiday period.
Jetstar Asia / Valuair Chief Executive Ms Chong Phit Lian said the new double daily services direct from Singapore were selling very strongly indicating high demand for low fares access to one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourism destinations.
Ms Chong led a Jetstar delegation to Phuket to address the travel industry and meet with Government representatives to support Jetstar’s future growth of flights for the destination.
“Phuket for us is a case of low fares, high demand,” Ms Chong said.
“Loads are selling strongly overall from Singapore, with flights in particular over the Christmas period and already for the Chinese New Year period filling to nearly 90 per cent.
“The schedule of a twice daily service is proving a popular option for travelers.”
The new double daily Phuket-Singapore services follow Jetstar Asia’s recent increase of services on its Singapore-Bangkok route to three times daily (21 weekly services).
“Bangkok has always been a strong performer for us but since we increased our schedule from two to three daily services, customer demand has responded well to the new offering,” Ms Chong said.
“To complement this growth with new double daily Phuket-Singapore services marks a significant step change in flights growth by Jetstar in Thailand.
“Our new robust schedule offering combined with our low fares is attracting both the leisure traveler and our growing number of business travelers between Singapore and Bangkok.”
Jetstar said its investment in growth of the brand across Southeast Asia and the further alignment of the Jetstar Australian operations with Jetstar Asia operations was positively impacting the passenger mix on flights.
“Of passengers booked to travel from Phuket to Singapore, we are seeing double digit patronage from Australian passengers, who we assume are familiar and regular travelers of Jetstar in Australia,” Ms Chong said.
“We also expect to continue to welcome many more Australian and European travelers to Phuket through our strategic interline agreement with Qantas.”
Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Singapore office Khun Porntip Makornpan said the new flights would be a fantastic boost to Phuket and Thai tourism.
“We sincerely welcome these new flights from Jetstar and look forward to the great contribution to tourism these new services will bring to our local tourism industry and economy.
“We look forward to working with Jetstar and the broader industry to promote greater travel to Phuket and Thailand.”
Jetstar will increase its three times weekly service from Sydney to Phuket to five times weekly until the end of January 2010. The wide-body service can accommodate 303 passengers, 38 in StarClass, Jetstar’s business class and 265 in economy.
Jetstar Asia will operate its fleet of A320 aircraft, configured in one class for 180 passengers on services between Singapore and Phuket.
A variety of snacks, hot meals and beverages are available for purchase on all Jetstar flights with all meals, snacks and beverages included in the fare for StarClass passengers from Australia.
Jetstar’s new flight schedule Singapore-Phuket*
(Departure Times shown)
From 15 December 2009
Singapore-Phuket Phuket-Singapore
3K533 Depart 08.35 Arrive 09.20 (.234.6.) 3K534 Depart 10.00 Arrive 12.50 (.234.6.)
3K537 Depart 20.35 Arrive 21.20 (Daily) 3K538 Depart 22.00 Arrive 00.40 (Daily)
Singapore-Phuket Phuket-Singapore
3K535 Depart 06.35 Arrive 07.10 (1…5.7) 3K536 Depart 07.50 Arrive 10.35 (1…5.7)
Jetstar schedule Sydney — Phuket from 15 December 2009 — 29 January 2010
Sydney — Phuket Phuket — Sydney
JQ27 Depart 14.15 Mon, Fri JQ28 Depart 21.00 Mon, Fri
JQ27 Depart 14.35 Sat*, Sun* JQ28 Depart 22.200 Wed, Sat*, Sun*
JQ27 Depart 15.15 Wed
Media Enquiries:
Simone Pregellio Manager Corporate Communications
[email protected]
James Best Aziam Burson-Marsteller