The three main hubs of low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar will be linked with the start up of daily long-haul services from Singapore direct to Melbourne and Auckland.
The Singapore-Melbourne service launches on December 16, 2010, followed by the Singapore-Auckland service on March 17, 2011. This is the first time any LCC or “value-based” carrier – as Jetstar describes itself – is flying long haul from the Lion City. Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan said: "Connecting our three largest operations in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore strengthens each of these businesses and builds a solid foundation for future growth beyond Singapore to North Asia and Europe."
A two-class Airbus A330-200 will be used on the routes and feature the international Business Class product, StarClass featuring leather seats and a range of meals and inflight entertainment.
A subsidiary of the Qantas group, Jetstar is also offering a Qantas code share and connectivity to Jetstar and Qantas flights through Singapore.? At Changi Airport, connections to other Jetstar markets in Asia, including Phuket and Bangkok, Denpasar and Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Hongkong and Macau and Ho Chi Minh are available. Additionally, a number of return connections to Australia ex Melbourne include Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Launceston as well as Jetstar's New Zealand ports of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.
Rival LCC AirAsia went long haul earlier to destinations such as London and Melbourne among others, pioneering flat-beds in its Business Class (see Tried and Tested).
For more on the carrier, visit www.jetstar.com
Margie T Logarta
