[BAG]

Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar is to further expand its Perth short haul international operations with the announced move to a daily service on the popular Perth-Denpasar (Bali) route effective 13 August 2009.

Jetstar currently operates four times weekly A320 low fare flying between Perth and Bali having entered the route on 27 October 2008. The value based carrier’s emerging international hub in Perth now supports direct services to Singapore (daily), Bali (4 moving to a daily service) and Jakarta (existing 3 times weekly) as part of its near Asian international growth strategy.

The introduction of three additional weekly Perth-Bali return flights will also complement recently announced daily ‘through’ connections by Jetstar to Singapore via Denpasar (Bali) and Jakarta commencing 14 July 2009.

These international through connections from Perth will offer even greater choice and full connectivity options for passengers travelling onto Europe with Qantas via Singapore. As part of Jetstar Group changes, Jetstar Asia will in the future operate the Perth-Jakarta-Singapore route, reverting to a two times weekly service also from 13 August 2009 with a like fleet of A320 aircraft.

Jetstar backs its every day low fares commitment to customers with its Jetstar Price Beat Guarantee, which means Jetstar will beat any competitor by 10 per cent if call us and book a Jetstar fare at a comparable date and time . Conditions apply, see Jetstar.com for details.

The value based carrier’s one way web fares on the Perth-Bali route are available from AUD$239 and on the Perth-Jakarta route from AUD$229 one way at Jetstar.com. (JetSaver Light fares).

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan made the announcements today at the 2009 Australian Tourism Exchange in Melbourne. Mr Buchanan said the Jetstar brand was providing greater competitive opportunities for affordable travel between Perth to Indonesia and Singapore through the carrier’s strategic use of its Perth international hub to better and more affordably link Australia with Asia.

“Jetstar is continuing to expand international flying direct from the West Australian capital to even better connect into Asia and this now includes further growth on the important Australian to Indonesia route,” Mr Buchanan said.
“As Australia’s fastest growing international airline we continue to see Perth play an even greater role moving forward to support Jetstar’s fast evolving Pan Asian network.

“Bali consistently draws strong patronage from Perth and by working with the resources of the wider Jetstar Group we have been able to adapt our capacity to better meet market demand.

“Providing more affordable, frequent and hassle free low fare travel between Australia and South East Asia through our Perth flying hub makes real sense in this ever changing travel market.

“Importantly Jetstar continues to be the largest Australian airline operator between Australia and Indonesia now offering a combination of 22 weekly wide and narrow body services to Bali and Jakarta.”

Jetstar Asia currently operates services from Singapore to 17 Asian holiday destinations with a like fleet of A320 aircraft and similar onboard product offering.
Mr Buchanan said introducing Jetstar Asia onto the Singapore-Jakarta-Perth route highlighted ongoing ways in which its operations were closely aligning with its Australian operations and providing new network growth opportunities between Australia and South East Asia for travelers.

“We remain vigilant in looking for opportunities to further grow services between Australia and Indonesia,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Travel by Australians to Bali during this calendar year to April has grown by 30 per cent against the prior year reflecting a further need for Jetstar to continue to best service this market.

“Jetstar plans to offer over 3000 weekly Qantas Group seats for international flying to and from Perth and overall up to twice daily services to both Singapore and Indonesia from the Western Australian capital.”