Jetstar cuts 20% of Avalon flights

[Peter D]

JETSTAR will slash services out of Avalon Airport by almost 20 per cent from February as confidence in the airline industry continues to nosedive.

The budget carrier will cut the number of weekly return services to Avalon from 70 to 57 for at least three months to offset the drop in demand sparked by the global economic crisis.

The revelations came as the Victoria Tourism Industry Council released its latest survey, which shows general business conditions have declined in the past three months, and most operators expect it to get worse before it improves.

The move will see Jetstar, which is the only airline to operate out of Avalon, bring its capacity out of the airport back to 2006 levels, Mr Westaway said.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/jetstar...1213-6xy8.html