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Jetstar Airways
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Jetstar Airways is a low-cost airline based in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue Airlines. It operates an extensive domestic network and regional and some international services. Its main base is Melbourne Airport. Parent company Qantas also has stakes in sister companies Jetstar Asia and Valuair in Singapore (via its stake in Orange Star); and Jetstar Pacific Airlines in Vietnam.
airline was established by Qantas in 2003 as a low-cost domestic subsidiary.
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Encyclopedia
Jetstar Airways is a low-cost airline based in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue Airlines. It operates an extensive domestic network and regional and some international services. Its main base is Melbourne Airport. Parent company Qantas also has stakes in sister companies Jetstar Asia and Valuair in Singapore (via its stake in Orange Star); and Jetstar Pacific Airlines in Vietnam.
History
The airline was established by Qantas in 2003 as a low-cost domestic subsidiary. Qantas had previously acquired Impulse Airlines and relaunched the airline under the Jetstar brand. Domestic passenger services began on 25 May 2004, soon after the sale of tickets for her inaugural flight in February 2004. International services to Christchurch, New Zealand, commenced on 1 December 2005. Although owned by Qantas, its management operates largely independent of Qantas through the company formerly known as Impulse Airlines - an airline acquired by Qantas on 20 November 2001. Other International services started in 2005.
Despite its low-cost ethos, Jetstar currently offers a limited number of connecting services without through baggage checking — though this has changed since international flights commenced in November 2006 when baggage connectivity and connecting services were added as a service offering for domestic flights connecting with international flights only.
Reserved seating is currently provided on all routes and on 4 October 2006, Jetstar became the first Australian airline to allow customers to select their seat upon booking.
The first flight of sister airline Jetstar Asia Airways took off from its Singapore hub to Hong Kong on 13 December 2004. This marked Qantas' entry into the Asian low-cost market and signified its intention to battle key competitor Singapore Airlines on its home ground. Qantas has a 42.5% stake in Jetstar Asia's ownership.
On 1 December 2003, when Qantas Airways Ltd announced this new low-cost carrier there was a virtual airline named Jetstar International Airlines already in existence, complete with a web site. As part of their startup promotion, Qantas sold 100,000 airline tickets for $29, and the virtual airline's web site was swamped with would-be customers, job-seekers, and prospective vendors. The virtual airline sued Qantas, claiming Copyright Infringement, Trademark Infringement, Illegal Cybersquatting, Conversion and Lanham Act Unfair Competition in United States District Court. Qantas settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
On 1 December 2005, Jetstar commenced operations from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Christchurch in New Zealand. On 7 December 2005, it was announced that Jetstar would establish the world's first global low cost airline flying initially to destinations within 10 hours of Australia but later to operate to Europe and the Americas. At the end of 2005, it was announced that Jetstar would fly to Perth, Western Australia from Melbourne's Avalon Airport.
In July 2006, Jetstar and Jetstar Asia were brought together under the Jetstar brand. Jetstar, Jetstar Asia Airways and Valuair customers now make all online bookings through Jetstar.com.
In July 2007, Qantas acquired a 18% stake in Vietnam's Pacific Airways, to increase to 30% by 2010. The airline was relaunched on 23 May 2008 as Jetstar Pacific.
On 1 August 2008 Jetstar announced that it had signed an agreement with the Northern Territory Government to make Darwin International Airport an international hub with plans for seven aircraft to be based in Darwin. Under the agreement Jetstar would be required to be base three aircraft at Darwin by June 2009 with a further four by June 2012 with the Territory Government provide AU$5 million to set up the hub and a further AU$3 million for promotion of the new routes.
Destinations
Possible future routes
Currently, Jetstar is investigating a number of new routes which include:
Fleet
Jetstar Airways Fleet (as of February 2009) | Aircraft | # | Seats | Notes |
|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 32 (52 on order) | 174/177 | Jetstar has 40 options and purchase rights.
Used for domestic, Asian and trans Tasman routes. | | Airbus A321-200 | 2 (16 on order) | 213 | Used on domestic routes (predominately to Cairns). Jetstar is the first user of A321s in Australia. | | Airbus A330-200 | 6 (1 on order) | 303 | Used on Cairns-Tokyo, Gold Coast-Osaka/Tokyo, Melbourne-Bangkok/Denpasar/Honolulu, and Sydney-Denpasar/Honolulu/Osaka/Phuket routes. | | Boeing 787-8 | (15 on order) | 250+ | To be used on Australian Domestic, Long Haul Routes (Europe, US West Coast Expansion).
Following Boeing delays, the arrival of the first Dreamliner is now scheduled for May 2010. |
Previously operated
The launch fleet consisted of Boeing 717s formerly operated by Impulse Airlines.
Marketing and sponsorship
From 2004-2006, the airline's former mascot, Julie The Jetstar Girl was played by actress Magda Szubanski.
The advertising slogan of Jetstar is "All day every day low fares". Two additional slogans have recently been used in its marketing campaigns; "Let's Fly Jetstar" (2004-2006) & "It's All About Choice / Fly Away" (1 July 2006-future)
In 2007, Jetstar won the low-cost carrier section of the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Jetstar Airways is the major sponsor of the National Rugby League team, the Gold Coast Titans.
In July 2008 Jetstar Airways was named the Official Airline of the Australian national rugby league team. One of its A320s was decorated with special decals to advertise the relationship.
Inflight service
On all routes Jetstar has a buy on board service offering food and drinks for purchase.
Incidents
Since commencing operation, the airline has not had any significant incidents. However two in-flight incidents have occurred:
- On 23 July 2007, Jetstar Flight 30 flying from Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi to Melbourne Airport was forced to make an emergency landing at Bali/Denpasar (DPS) after an in-flight diagnostic shut down engine 1. The Airbus A330-200 VH-EBE was only three weeks old, and Jetstar is investigating the cause of the issue with Airbus.
- On 25 September 2007, Jetstar Flight 1 flying from Melbourne Airport to Honolulu International Airport ten passengers became ill. The passengers, 3 seated in Starclass and the remainder in Economy, became sick within 2 and 4 1/2 hours into the flight. One of the passengers was taken to hospital on arrival in Honolulu and the remainder held in quarantine. No link between the food service and the mystery illness has been established.
Television series
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The Nine Network began airing the series Going Places from October 2007. The 8-part series depicts the everyday lives of selected staff members of Jetstar, Sydney and Melbourne airport staff. The show follows the dramas of the check-in staff, mid-flight staff, and the induction program for new international recruits.
They also give away two return tickets to the destination of their choice each week.
External links
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