Jetstar reconnects Australia and Japan after more than two years

Jetstar reconnects Australia and Japan after more than two years

 

Jetstar’s flights between Tokyo and Cairns took off again this week after a gap of nearly two and a half years, with the airline preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from Japan into tropical north Queensland each week.

While restrictions remain in place for independent tourists travelling from Australia to Japan, Japanese citizens are now able to travel freely between the two countries, driving strong demand for Jetstar’s relaunch of direct services to Cairns.  The airline will operate up to five return flights per week between Cairns and Narita (Tokyo), bringing up to 1,600 people into Australia from Japan every week and providing an important boost to local tourism. 

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said “Australia has always been a popular destination for Japanese travellers, and we’re excited to be able to reconnect the two countries, providing a significant tourism boost to the local Cairns community and Queensland more broadly,” 

Jetstar is the first Australian carrier to relaunch flights between Australia and Japan, which has always been a popular destination for Aussie travellers. Jetstar will resume services between Cairns and Osaka (Kansai) on 26 July.

Jetstar Asia to operate daily services to Bangkok and Bali

Jetstar Asia to operate daily services to Bangkok and Bali

As demand for air travel continues to recover, Jetstar Asia has received approval to operate daily services from Singapore to Bangkok from 1 July. The airline will expand its current schedule by two weekly flights, providing fully vaccinated travellers more options to 

visit one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations. 

In addition, starting today Jetstar Asia will increase services between Singapore and Denpasar from five to seven weekly return services, as more travellers look to return to the beautiful island paradise for that long-awaited holiday. 

As travel restrictions ease across the region, Jetstar, in collaboration with third party technology company Sherpa, has introduced an interactive global map on jetstar.com to help travellers access the most up-to-date information as they navigate COVID-related travel 

restrictions and requirements. 

The colour-coded map shows which destinations are open to visitors and the latest information on entry requirements including COVID testing and quarantine measures. 

Jetstar Asia CEO, Bara Pasupathi said it was great to welcome back more customers on board.  “Overseas business trips, international holidays and visiting family and friends abroad are back on our customer’s agenda,” Mr. Pasupathi said. 

“Demand for services to key Southeast Asian destinations is picking up and we’re responding by increasing our services and expanding our network to meet this pent-up demand. 

“And to support our customers as they return to flying, we are providing additional peace of mind through our Fly Well and Fly Flexible programs as well as introducing this new handy tool on our website, so they have access to the latest travel requirements when booking. 

Third Qantas Airbus A380 returning from storage to enter service from 6 June on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route. Plus more updates from the Australian airline group.

Photo Qantas

The Qantas Group in Australia has issued an update on its operations as the travel industry continues to recover from COVID-19 and network adjustments continue to flow through.

The airline group has listed some of the recent developments at both Jetstar and Qantas as more and more services come back online.  Including slowly waking up the giant Airbus A380 aircraft from its enforced slumber and putting them back in service. However, Qantas is axing a number of domestic flights for July and August that it had previously scheduled, mainly due to a lack of staff, although capacity will still be above pre-covid levels. 

Photo Qantas

(All dates refer to 2022 unless otherwise indicated.)

Group International

• Group International continues to see strong demand, particularly as we move towards the northern summer peak and more countries relax restrictions.
• Group International capacity remains unchanged at just under 50 per cent of pre-COVID levels by the end of the fourth quarter of FY22 and rising to around 70 per cent by the end of the first quarter of FY23.
• Flights from Perth to London (QF9) resumed on 23 May, with one return flight per day operating through the Western Australian gateway after operating through Darwin since November last year. QF1 will reroute from Sydney-Darwin-London to operate Sydney-Singapore-London from 19 June and switch from a 787 back to an Airbus A380 service.
• Qantas will welcome a third A380 back from storage, which will return to service from 6 June on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route.
• Following the recent relaxation of New Zealand border restrictions, Qantas and Jetstar’s Tasman flying has ramped up significantly, including:
• Flights resumed from Australia to Queenstown and Wellington, and additional routes to Christchurch.

• Qantas has doubled the frequency of flights to Auckland from Melbourne and Sydney and is operating some flights from Brisbane with A330s.

  

  Photo Qantas

• Jetstar has restarted flights on all Australia to Auckland markets and will restart on the remaining Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington markets in the next few weeks.

Jetstar unveils new livery for its new Airbus A321LR fleet as delivery countdown begins

Australian airline Jetstar has unveiled the new livery for its world-class fleet of Airbus NEOs as the airline prepares to embark on a new era of flying. Photo Jetstar

Australian airline Jetstar has unveiled the new livery for its world-class fleet of Airbus NEOs as the airline prepares to embark on a new era of flying.

The first of Jetstar’s pipeline of 38 NEO aircraft is set to arrive in Melbourne in the coming months, with the A321LR aircraft commencing flying on some of Jetstar’s most popular domestic routes, including from Melbourne to Cairns.

Featuring a unique orange tail and underbelly, and freshly branded wingtips, the new livery uses a two coat ‘basecoat-clearcoat’ system which is longer lasting and reduces paint weight by up to 30 per cent, resulting in a fuel saving of up to 108 tonnes each year across the whole A321LR fleet and a saving of nearly 350 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Photo Jetstar

 In addition to being 15 per cent more fuel-efficient, the A321LRs feature a number of benefits that will enhance the customer experience including:

Wider seats than the existing Jetstar A320/21 fleet

Extra-large overhead bins with 40 per cent more storage space

Up to 50 per cent quieter engines

Flip-down smartphone and tablet cradles and in-seat USB power

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said the arrival of the NEO fleet was one of the most significant milestones in the airline’s 18-year history.“These modern aircraft are world-class in terms of performance, comfort and sustainability, ensuring our customers will enjoy a new range of benefits on board.

“With the NEOs arriving in our 18th birthday year, their arrival symbolises how we’ve grown to become the largest and most successful low-cost carrier in the Asia Pacific region.

“In addition to flying on our most popular domestic routes, the long-range NEOs open up new international opportunities, providing us with an opportunity to expand our international network and deliver on our promise to offer more low fares to more destinations.”

Photo Jetstar

Delivery of a further eight A321LRs will take place between August 2022 and May 2023, with all 18 aircraft expected to be delivered by mid-2024.

A further 20 A321XLR aircraft will arrive between 2024 and 2029, providing an even longer range of narrowbody flying.

 

More on the A321LR aircraft......

The longer range, more fuel-efficient, quieter Jetstar A321LR will seat 232 passengers in a single class cabin that lifts the bar on comfort for low fares travellers in Australia.

LED lighting changes colour to help passengers transition through the flight.   Photo Jetstar

LED lighting changes colour to help passengers transition through the flight.

Key cabin features include:

Award-winning ergonomic Recaro seats with tapered arm rests for greater living space.

Extra-large overhead bins with 40 per cent more space, providing passengers with more room to stow bags overhead.

Flip-down smartphone and tablet cradles and in-seat USB power to keep personal devices charged.

Colour LED lighting that adjusts to the different stages of flight, which provides greater levels of passenger comfort and supports transition through various stages of flight.

Seat design allows for greater living space and better comfort.

Photo Jetstar

So, what is the Airbus A321LR? The simplest explanation is that it’s the next generation of the A321 twin-engine jet that’s already popular around the world. The ‘neo’ designation stands for ‘new engine option’ – referring to the quieter, more fuel-efficient CFM LEAP engines developed for the aircraft, which reduce fuel burn by at least 15 per cent and aircraft noise by 50 per cent.

The new cabin design of the Jetstar Airbus A321neo LR plane.

Extra-large overhead bins provide 40 per cent more storage space.

The A321LR will also give an extended flying range, with the ability to fly 1,200kms further than the current A320/321 fleet.

Initially, Jetstar will deploy the A321LR on domestic routes like Melbourne to Cairns and the Gold Coast. The airline will also look at flying international routes as our international operation ramps up.

Photo Jetstar

A321XLR aircraft

The A321XLR offers even more range – with a maximum flying range of up to 4,700nm, or 8700km, depending on the configuration of the aircraft. This has the potential for even more opportunities to expand our growing domestic and international network.

Featuring aerodynamic-enhancing Sharklets on the wings and fuel-efficient engines, the A321XLR aircraft has an enhanced environmental performance, including a 20 per cent lower fuel burn per seat, 5,000 tonnes less CO2 per year, and a noise footprint that is 50 per cent lower.

With the first new A321XLR aircraft set to join our fleet from mid-2024, we look forward to sharing details of the Jetstar configuration in the lead up to delivery.

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Australian airline Jetstar has unveiled the new livery for its world-class fleet of Airbus NEOs as the airline prepares to embark on a new era of flying. Photo Jetstar

Jetstar expands Canberra network with new Melbourne and Gold Coast flights

Jetstar has announced it will expand its Canberra network with new flights to Melbourne and Gold Coast, further cementing the low-fares airline’s presence in Australia’s capital city and bringing an additional 100,000 tourists to the ACT each year.

This marks the first time Jetstar has flown these routes and follows the successful launch of Brisbane – Canberra flights in December, which continues to be a popular route in both directions.

To celebrate the launch of the new flights, Jetstar is launching a flash sale at midday today with fares between Melbourne and Canberra starting at $55 and Gold Coast flights from $49.

Jetstar Group CEO, Gareth Evans said the expansion of flights to and from Canberra was a significant milestone for Jetstar, having just launched its first-ever flight to the ACT in December.  “We’re excited to add an additional two routes into Canberra, following the success of our Brisbane Canberra flights which took off only a few months ago.  The Canberra region has a huge amount to offer visitors with blockbuster exhibitions and world-class museums and galleries as well as lots of activities for school groups.

Canberra is also the gateway to Thredbo, one of Australia’s most sought-after ski and mountain-biking destinations, which will be popular with Melburnians.

For Canberrans, having a low-fares direct service to the Gold Coast will be welcome news, with the region consistently ranked as one of Australia’s most popular family holiday destinations. And the restaurants, shopping and sporting events in Melbourne offer a great weekend getaway. 

We thank the ACT Government for their ongoing support in launching these new routes.”

The announcement by Jetstar is a welcome vote of confidence in Canberra said Chief Minister Andrew Barr. “VisitCanberra will work with Jetstar on cooperative marketing campaigns to promote the new services and encourage more travellers to find more than they came for in Canberra.

Improving Canberra’s aviation links remains a key priority for the ACT Government during our city’s economic recovery.”

Taking off from 1 July, the new Melbourne flights will operate daily services with an Airbus A320, providing more than 130,000 seats between the two cities annually.

Flights to and from the Gold Coast will commence on 16 September, with four weekly return services carrying up to 75,000 travellers each year.

 Schedule

Flight number	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
JQ654 MEL-CBR	09:25	10:30	Daily flight
JQ655 CBR-MEL	11:05	12:15
JQ651 OOL-CBR	12:55	14:35	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
JQ650 CBR-OOL	15:10	16:40

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Qantas budget carrier Jetstar restarts Perth - Singapore route

After more than four years, Jetstar Asia has resumed its Singapore to Perth services, the third Australian destination in the airline’s network following the relaunch of flights from Singapore to Darwin and Melbourne.

The budget carrier will operate four weekly services to the Western Australian capital to meet the pent-up demand for travellers wanting to return to this ever-popular destination.

Jetstar Asia’s CEO, Bara Pasupathi, said before the pandemic, Singaporeans made up one of the largest group of visitors to Perth and now quarantine-free travel was back on the menu, they expected the route to be as popular as ever.

“With family ties, education and business interests, not to mention the incredible places to visit in Western Australian from Fremantle, Rottnest Island and Monkey Mia to the stunning Margaret River region, we know this destination is high of people’s list of places to visit,” Mr. Pasupathi said.

“While we have operated a handful of services over the past two years to support business needs in Perth, Jetstar Asia is very excited to officially add Perth back into our schedule. 

“We know our customers are eager to reunite with friends and families, as well as enjoy the incredible beaches, vineyards and natural wonders WA has to offer, so I’m sure they will welcome Jetstar Asia’s low fares as well as the recent easing of quarantine requirements and the move from PCR tests to ART.

“And in return, we can’t wait to welcome Western Australians back to the Lion City while providing them access to services operated by Jetstar’s global network of codeshare and interline partners, as well as Jetstar Asia’s Southeast Asian network.”

Tourism Minister Roger Cook said he welcomed the resumption of the Jetstar Asia flights from Singapore to Perth. “Western Australia is open for business and open for tourism. - We look forward to welcoming more tourists and travellers to Perth on the new Jetstar Asia service.”

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Jetstar receives vaccinated travel lane approval

Jetstar receives vaccinated travel lane approval

Jetstar has received approval to operate designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services from Melbourne and Darwin to Singapore, starting in December.

Jetstar Airways flights between Melbourne and Singapore will commence from 19 December, offering two-way quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated Singaporeans, Australians and Australian Permanent Residents.

To celebrate the expansion of Singapore’s VTL scheme to Australia, Jetstar has launched Singapore to Melbourne fares starting as low as SG$168 one way.

In addition, three weekly services from Darwin to Singapore, operated by Jetstar Asia, will commence on 20 December, marking the resumption of Jetstar Asia’s direct link to Australia’s “Top End”.

Singapore to Darwin fares of SG$138 one-way are now available for travel from late January 2022, when quarantine-free travel into the Northern Territory is expected to resume.

Customers outside Singapore wanting to travel to Australia can now connect to Darwin and Melbourne via Singapore’s Changi Airport from services operated by Jetstar’s global network of codeshare and interline partners as well as from across Jetstar Asia’s Southeast Asian network, such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila.

Fiji back on the schedule for both Jetstar and Qantas

Following the Fijian Governments announcement regarding the reopening plan for Australian travellers, both Jetstar and Qantas have confirmed plans for direct flights between Sydney and Fiji from mid-December. 

Jetstar will start services from 17th December and will fly the route five times a week. Qantas will restart services from 19th December and operate the route four times each week.  The airline's say fares for the summer period will start at $219 one way with Jetstar and all-inclusive Qantas fares start at $358 one way.

Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said Fiji was set to be one of Jetstar’s first international flights to take off "Australians will be excited to start planning their first overseas holiday now that international borders are set to open, and both Jetstar and Qantas have seen a significant spike in Fiji flight searches in recent weeks.

In a recent survey conducted by Jetstar, Fiji rated as one of the top international beach holiday destinations that people want to visit once borders open - particularly for families and young people.

Returning to the South Pacific is an exciting milestone in our international restart plans as we gradually rebuild our network over the next six months. It also means more of our crew can return to work, which is great news."

The new rules instigated by the Fijian Government mean  Australian travellers will be required to stay within their resort for 48 hours upon arrival and return a negative test, before being able to explore ‘safe travel areas’ across Fiji.

Returning Australians may be required to home quarantine for up to seven days on arrival into New South Wales, in accordance with the requirements from the Federal and New South Wales governments.

As previously indicated, all passengers on Qantas and Jetstar international flights will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine (some exemptions for medical reasons and children). They will also be required to return a negative PCR COVID test 72 hours prior to departure.

International flights remain subject to Government and Regulatory approval.

Carry on reading for more details about the multitude of islands that make up Fiji

Qantas and Jetstar updates flight schedules as states reopening plans published

Photo Getty

Qantas will continue to operate five return flights a week between Perth and both Sydney and Melbourne to maintain minimum connections for those with permits to travel.

There is no change to Qantas or Jetstar flights between WA, Tasmania, Northern Territory and South Australia. Flights between WA and Queensland will increase once border restrictions are removed, hopefully in coming weeks. The Group is ready to adjust its schedules in response to changes by states as various restrictions ease in the weeks ahead.

Internationally, flights are still on track to gradually restart from 18 December 2021 onwards when Australia is expected to have reached National Cabinet’s ‘Phase C’ vaccination threshold of 80 per cent. However, as previously flagged, Qantas will temporarily reroute its flagship Perth-London service until at least April 2022 due to the latest WA border settings and assumptions.

    Bringing forward the reopening date for travel between Victoria and New South Wales from 1 December to 5 November 2021, based on Victoria’s reopening plan.

    Significantly increasing regional flying within New South Wales from 25 October 2021, in line with the State Government’s roadmap, to around 40 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

    Delaying the restart of domestic flying between Western Australia and Victoria / New South Wales by two months to 1 February 2022, based on border assumptions.

Qantas is in detailed discussions with the NT Government and Darwin Airport to assess operating the direct London flight from Darwin during this time. The national carrier has successfully used Darwin as a hub for its repatriation flights to various destinations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East over the past 12 months.

The discussions for what would be a daily Melbourne-Darwin-London service focus on the logistics of domestic and international transit under the current NT Government Plan for COVID-Management at Stage 3 of the National Plan. If this service can’t operate through Darwin, it will instead fly Melbourne-Singapore-London until at least April 2022. A decision on the exact routing is likely to be made within the next two weeks.

Phuket re-joins route network for Jetstar Asia.....

Jetstar Asia has restarted flights to the popular leisure destination Phuket, with the first flight taking off on Friday 3rd September.   The airline confirmed it has restarted the route with flights on Fridays and Sundays, with the possibility of adding more flights depending upon demand.

The route is part of the Thai Government’s ‘sandbox scheme’, where travellers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are able to visit Phuket without the need to quarantine.

Clive Ashmore Butler, Head of Commercial said it was great to resume services to the stunning Thai island, with the launch representing an important milestone in the rebuilding of Jetstar Asia’s network. "As we see border restrictions start to ease, it is fantastic to be able to take advantage of important initiatives like the Phuket sandbox scheme and to play a pivotal role in rebuilding the tourism industry across the region -  We know low fares travel will drive the aviation industry’s recovery and as a leading low-cost carrier we are committed to seeking opportunities that allow us to provide our customers with more options to reconnect with families and friends or simply to take a much-needed holiday."

Patsalin Swetarat, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Singapore Office also believes in helping boost the confidence of the travelling public.  "We are pleased to share that up to 70 percent of the tourism workforce has been fully vaccinated and Phuket hotels, restaurants and tourism services, who are ‘SHA Plus’, have been certified as COVID-safe as well.  As we welcome Jetstar Asia and their passengers back to Phuket, the launch is timely as we introduce the ‘Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension’ program where fully vaccinated travellers can reduce the mandatory stay in Phuket to only 7 days instead of 14. The remaining 7 nights can be spent in Ko Phi Phi, Ko Ngai or Railay in Krabi, Khao Lak or Ko Yao in Phang-Nga, or Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan or Ko Tao in Surat Thani."

The Jetstar Group was recently named Asia Pacific’s best low-cost airline in 2021 and Jetstar Asia currently flies to ten key destinations in Southeast Asia.

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Jetstar reintroduces transit with alliance partners Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and British Airways at Singapore Changi Airport

Jetstar Asia has welcomed back Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and British Airways# to its international carrier partnerships. The renewed partnerships enable customers to seamlessly connect between Jetstar Asia’s Southeast Asian network and the European airlines’ global network via Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Customers travelling to/from Europe on these full-service carriers can once again transfer to a Jetstar Asia (3K) service in Singapore and travel to any of the ten destinations Jetstar Asia currently operates to Bangkok, Clark, Ho Chi Minh City^, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Penang, Phnom Penh, Phuket* and Surabaya.

Clive Ashmore Butler, Head of Commercial and Alliances, Jetstar Asia said it was great to see more airlines return to Singapore, helping restore its position as a global hub.

“Jetstar Asia’s longstanding partnerships with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and British Airways will provide more exciting travel opportunities for our customers and a significant boost in the revival of Singapore’s air travel hub,” Mr. Ashmore Butler said.

2500 Qantas and Jetstar staff stood down for two months......

Around 2,500 frontline Qantas and Jetstar employees will be stood down for an estimated two months in response to ongoing COVID outbreaks.

The stand-down is a temporary measure to deal with a significant drop in flying caused by COVID restrictions in Greater Sydney in particular and the knock-on border closures in all other states and territories. No job losses are expected.

Today’s decision will directly impact domestic pilots, cabin crew and airport workers, mostly in New South Wales but also in other states given the nature of airline networks. Employees will be given two weeks’ notice before the stand-down takes effect, with pay continuing until mid-August.

Income support in the form of government disaster payments will be key to helping eligible employees get through this challenging period and the Qantas Group welcomes the targeted Federal Government support offered for those stood down outside of declared hotspots and to retain domestic aviation capability.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the difficult decision to trigger stand-downs reflected the reality confronting many businesses operating in New South Wales.

Qantas Group to work with IATA on health pass when regular Qantas and Jetstar international flights resume.

The Qantas Group has confirmed it will work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to roll out a digital health pass when regular Qantas and Jetstar international flights resume.

The decision to proceed with IATA follows trials of several digital solutions on Qantas’ international repatriation flights in recent months.

The IATA Travel Pass offers a convenient and secure method for customers to verify COVID test results and vaccination information with border or health officials and airline staff. The app connects customers to certified testing labs so that results can be uploaded to the platform and customers can show they have a vaccine certificate and/or proof of a negative COVID test result before their flight.

Importantly, the IATA Travel Pass matches a customer’s health information against a specific flight, checks the entry requirements for the country they are travelling to and provides clearance to travel on that flight, to both the customer and airline.

Final development work is now underway to ensure the app is ready for use on Qantas and Jetstar international flights when they resume.

The announcement follows the Federal Government’s release of its four-phase national COVID-19 response plan earlier this month, which includes validating the vaccination status of Australians returning from overseas.

Jetstar to launch flights between Brisbane and Perth

The Australian airline Jetstar has confirmed it will launch flights between Perth and Brisbane, as the low fares carrier continues to expand its domestic network in response to strong demand.

Taking off from November, the new service will offer five return flights per week with an Airbus A320, increasing to daily flights in peak periods, providing more than 100,000 seats between the two cities per annum.

To celebrate the new route, Jetstar will launch a 12-hour flash sale from midday today (AEST) with fares from $125^ one way.

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said this is the seventh new route that Jetstar has announced in the past 12 months, as demand for low fares domestic travel continues to grow.

“We’re excited to help make travel between the east and west coasts even more accessible by introducing our low fares between Perth and Brisbane.

“While international borders remain closed, we’re seeing significant demand for low fares travel domestically, with recent customer surveys showing that travellers keen to explore parts of Australia they’ve never previously been to.

JetStar launches Sydney - Hervey Bay route

Jetstar starts Sydney - Hervey Bay flights 

• The new three-weekly return services between Sydney and Hervey Bay 

• Sydney to Hervey Bay marks Jetstar’s 57th domestic route

For the first time in 11 years, Sydney travellers are now able to enjoy direct low fares travel to the popular Fraser Coast region with Jetstar’s flight to Hervey Bay.

The three-per-week service is operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft and will carry up to 50,000 visitors to the region each year, delivering an eight million dollar boost to the Queensland economy.

Jetstar Group CEO, Gareth Evans, said it was great to offer low fares on the route again. “Hervey Bay is the fifth new domestic route we’ve launched in the last year with customers and local tourism and hospitality operators benefiting from the great low fares that we bring to the region.

“We’ve seen great demand for our direct service with people chasing the warmer weather and planning trips to see the whales as the migration season starts.

Jetstar announces direct flights between Cairns and Newcastle

Australian budget carrier, Jetstar has announced this week that a new direct service between Cairns and Newcastle will take to the skies from late June, in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Taking off from 23 June, the three-per-week service will be operated by A320 aircraft and is expected to carry close to 6,000 visitors between Cairns and Newcastle each month, delivering a significant tourism boost to both cities.

To celebrate the announcement, Jetstar will today launch a flash sale at midday, with fares available between Cairns and Newcastle from $69.

By the time the new flights take off, Jetstar’s network of 21 destinations in Australia will be operating flights across 58 different domestic route options.

Quarantine-free Tasman flights resume after almost 400 days................ Australia - New Zealand travel bubble

After more than a year of international border closures, Qantas and Jetstar will today resume regular flights between Australia and New Zealand with the opening of the two-way trans-Tasman bubble.

Flights are resuming to all pre-COVID destinations in New Zealand across 15 routes and Qantas will today start a new route between the Gold Coast and Auckland, marking the airline’s first ever international flights from Gold Coast Airport.

The airlines will operate a combined 29 flights between Australia and New Zealand today, carrying thousands of customers, with around 200 flights to operate each week.

    630 Qantas and Jetstar employees coming back to         work; more aircraft back in air

    Jetstar to operate first flight out of Sydney to                 Auckland - JQ201

    Qantas to operate its first international flight out of       the Gold Coast

Jetstar’s first departure was JQ201 from Sydney to Auckland at 6.15am operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft while Qantas’ first departure out of Sydney was QF143 to Auckland at 9.05am and a massive Airbus A330 aircraft operating the service. Both flights are operating to Auckland at close to full capacity, including a full Business cabin on Qantas. Qantas’ first flight from Australia to New Zealand was QF151 Melbourne to Auckland departing at 8am.

Australia - New Zealand services back on for Qantas and Jetstar.

Photo Getty

The Australian airlines Jetstar and Qantas have confirmed they will restart flying to all destinations in New Zealand when the two-way Trans-Tasman bubble opens up later this month.

The national carrier will also launch two new routes direct from Auckland to Cairns and the Gold Coast, providing travellers with more options for holidays in Queensland and New Zealand.

From 19 April 2021, Jetstar and Qantas will initially operate up to 122 return flights per week across the Tasman on 15 routes, offering more than 52,000 seats each week.

Qantas Frequent Flyer will also boost the number of Classic Reward seats for frequent flyers, making all seats in all cabins across Qantas and Jetstar flights for the first three days available as a Classic Flight redemption. For the remainder of 2021, frequent flyers will also enjoy access to 50 per cent more Classic Flight Reward seats on Qantas’ trans-Tasman routes.

Qantas Domestic and International CEO, Andrew David, said Australia has always had an incredibly close relationship with New Zealand but in the past 12 months it’s never felt further away.

Jetstar launched direct flights between Melbourne and Hamilton Island

Jetstar launched direct flights between Melbourne and Hamilton Island, allowing Melbournians to travel direct to the popular Whitsunday Island with the low fares airline for the first time in seven years.

Jetstar research shows that approximately 70 percent of Jetstar’s customers in the first weeks of operations are couples and honeymooners.

Jetstar Group CEO, Gareth Evans, said it was great to offer low fares on the route again.  “Hamilton Island is proof that we have one world’s most spectacular tropical getaways right here in Australia.

Many Melbournians postponed their weddings and honeymoons as a result of the pandemic and so this route is proving particularly popular with couples wanting a relaxing holiday after what has been a tough year. With the increased demand for low fares travel, we are now operating to 55 routes across Australia – our largest network ever.”

Half-price flights take off as Qantas and Jetstar launch network wide-sale

                             Aussies looking to book a holiday can grab discounted fares to any Qantas and Jetstar domestic or regional destination for travel for the rest of 2021.

From midnight tonight, Qantas and Jetstar will be releasing half price fares to 15 destinations as part of the Federal Government’s ‘Half Off Flights – Full on Holiday’ program announced earlier this month.

The program is focused on getting tourists to regions hardest hit by international borders being closed including Cairns, Townsville, Whitsunday Coast/ Hamilton Island, Sunshine Coast, Darwin, Alice Springs, Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and the Gold Coast.

Fares are on sale through each airline’s website and travel agents until the end of July (unless sold out earlier) for travel until the end of September, with the discounted fares to be clearly marked through the booking process.

Qantas and Jetstar are also launching network-wide sales tonight (dubbed the ‘Everywhere Else’ sale) with discounted fares to more than 50 destinations across more than 200 routes.