Jetstar announces daily AKL-SIN direct

[David Ramsay]

From NZ Herald web site

Low-cost airline Jetstar is launching a new daily direct service between Auckland and Singapore in time for the Rugby World Cup.

The new service will begin on March 17 next year and introductory fares could be as low as about $100 one way.

Jetstar says its standard fares on its daily direct services will be lower than the only carrier on the same route, Singapore Airlines.

Airline executive manager of operations Mark Dal Pra said it will start selling seats within the next fortnight. Although he could not say what fares would be, the airline launched a Melbourne-Singapore service today with a limited number of promotional seats at A$99 (NZ$122) one way.

As with its New Zealand domestic and transtasman services passengers will have to pay extra for food and entertainment and depending on the type of fare, there will be charges for bags.

An Airbus A330-200 will be used on the route with StarClass business class on offer.

Dal Pra said its StarClass was typically the same price as other carriers' full fare economy seats.

Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the new flights offered travellers "an array of new affordable travel options".

"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," he said.

Today's news comes just a week after Jetstar said it was adding an A320 airbus to its fleet and was announced on the eve of the first anniversary of their entry into the New Zealand domestic market.

The new service is subject to regulatory approval.

The new Jetstar services will support major New Zealand tourism initiatives including the 2011 Rugby World Cup, said Dal Pra.

Jetstar will base two wide-body Airbus A330-200 aircraft in Singapore. They are configured to carry 303 passengers in a two-class cabin.

Last month Continental Airlines announced it was planning direct flights between Auckland and Houston five times a week beginning November 2011.

That service will use the airlines new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Auckland Airport chief executive Simon Moutter said the announcement would not only benefit New Zealand tourism and trade but would provide New Zealand travellers with greater choice.

"This news is very consistent with our own Asian tourism growth ambitions.

"Auckland Airport had recently signalled to the market an intention to invest further into building sustainable high growth markets out of Asia."

The announcement provided just some of the extra capacity the airport needed to achieve this goal, Moutter said.

[Stefan Perkas]

Afternoon all,

They are also launching MEL-SIN-MEL with A330's as well from December 15 2010.

JQ7 Dep MEL 1200 Arr SIN 1650
JQ8 Dep SIN 2050 Arr MEL 0655+1

[Stefan Perkas]

Evening all,

From another forum. Here are the schedules.

3K401 Dep SIN 1950 Arr AKL 1100+1 A332 D
3K402 Dep AKL 1220 Arr SIN 1800 A332 D

[Jarden S]

Will JQ still run the A320 MEL-DRW-SIN flight or will it be dropped when the larger A330 flight begins?

[Stefan Perkas]

It looks as though JQ61-62 is still operating. with the intro of this new JQ flight Melbourne will have 6 flights a day between SIN and MEL.

3x SQ
2X JQ and 1x QF.

It would be intersting to see if QF82 SYD-ADL-SIN-ADL-SYD and one of the 2x daily Perth flights transfer to JQ using A332's.

[Oliver Gigacz]

Originally Posted by Stefan Perkas

It looks as though JQ61-62 is still operating. with the intro of this new JQ flight Melbourne will have 6 flights a day between SIN and MEL.

3x SQ
2X JQ and 1x QF.

It would be intersting to see if QF82 SYD-ADL-SIN-ADL-SYD and one of the 2x daily Perth flights transfer to JQ using A332's.

Emirates also fly to Singapore from Melbourne.

[Michael Morrison]

Originally Posted by Andrew

No.

Never say never - I would have thought if SIN-MEL was fine for JQ then ADL-SIN would be too - especially with lower cost SIN crews...

I wonder if we will also see a AKL-PER 332 flight with JQ.

A few people have been saying NZ didnt make money on SIN-AKL so let JQ have it.

I think what they forget is it is not just the SMALL AKL-SIN O&D traffic... this route will mainly be for connections......

JQ/QF will now be able to sell a one stop AKL-SIN-LHR service, not to mention the one stop possibilities to Asia on other JQ services like HKT/KUL/Indian destinations as well as the new KL/AF agreement so it is also one stop AKL-CDG/AMS....

I think JQ will be able to make it work.

[Harry G]

Originally Posted by Jarden S

Will JQ still run the A320 MEL-DRW-SIN flight or will it be dropped when the larger A330 flight begins?

Media reported that JQ in talks with DRW .......appears again to be some form of dispute about "cost" and Buchanan has stated that they "may" reconsider flights in and out of DRW from MEL.....

with two planes based in Singapore would it indicate cost cuts as Singapore crews are "cheaper" than Aus crews? especially with JQ stating Singapore being the hub for all europe sectors??????
any JQ staff comment??

[Simon C]

Originally Posted by Jarden S

Will JQ still run the A320 MEL-DRW-SIN flight or will it be dropped when the larger A330 flight begins?

The JQ61-62 flight will terminate in DRW and most likely return to MEL. JQ will still operate CNS-DRW-SIN.