Kain C
16th May 2008, 05:02 PM
Hobart could get direct Jetstar flights to Asia
Article from: The Mercury
MICHAEL STEDMAN
May 16, 2008 12:00am
JETSTAR chief executive Alan Joyce has not ruled out making Hobart a truly international airport, with future direct flights to destinations across Asia.
In Hobart yesterday ahead of a businesses dinner, Mr Joyce said: "We feel like we have strong links here -- it is a very important market for us and one that we see has great potential.
"We recently added an extra service to our Melbourne-Hobart routes and both of the brands, Qantas and Jetstar, are profitable, which is a unique combination when you go back on the history of these routes."
He said the airline was now offering 12,390 seats between Melbourne and Hobart and "seat factors" during the peak summer season were in the 80 and 90 per cent range.
With Jetstar pushing into destinations across Asia, including Singapore and Vietnam, the big question is whether Tasmania could soon become a truly international destination.
"You never say never . . . we are always open to reviewing different destinations," Mr Joyce said.
Tasmania is already in the company's international booking network.
"With Jetstar going international with its long-haul flights and investment in Asia, we see the benefits for Tasmania being in the Jetstar network is pretty massive," Mr Joyce said. "For us there are huge opportunities and those opportunities could involve international destinations out of a whole series of destinations like Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin."
Mr Joyce said the company wanted to establish its international operations before looking at new routes.
Domestically, Jetstar is also investigating the possibility of a direct service between Tasmania and the Gold Coast to cater for burgeoning demand to the region.
Despite rising fuel costs, Mr Joyce was adamant the discounting war with low-cost carriers Tiger and Virgin would continue. When the company started in 2003, fuel was at $30 a barrel -- at more than $120 a barrel now it accounts for 40 per cent of the airline's cost base.
Mr Joyce said Jetstar had absorbed those costs by purchasing modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, streamlining booking procedures and encouraging passengers to travel without luggage.
He said it did not want to introduce a fuel surcharge.
"If fuel gets over $200 a barrel, we may have some problems," he said.
This would agree with the rumor that JQ will add 2 x A320 to be based at OOL to match Tiger's probable 2nd Australian Base. Lets hope the flights are in the morning and not midnight specials like the HBA-BNE is now!
Can this be moved to the A&NZ Industry forum mods. I meant to put it in there!
Article from: The Mercury
MICHAEL STEDMAN
May 16, 2008 12:00am
JETSTAR chief executive Alan Joyce has not ruled out making Hobart a truly international airport, with future direct flights to destinations across Asia.
In Hobart yesterday ahead of a businesses dinner, Mr Joyce said: "We feel like we have strong links here -- it is a very important market for us and one that we see has great potential.
"We recently added an extra service to our Melbourne-Hobart routes and both of the brands, Qantas and Jetstar, are profitable, which is a unique combination when you go back on the history of these routes."
He said the airline was now offering 12,390 seats between Melbourne and Hobart and "seat factors" during the peak summer season were in the 80 and 90 per cent range.
With Jetstar pushing into destinations across Asia, including Singapore and Vietnam, the big question is whether Tasmania could soon become a truly international destination.
"You never say never . . . we are always open to reviewing different destinations," Mr Joyce said.
Tasmania is already in the company's international booking network.
"With Jetstar going international with its long-haul flights and investment in Asia, we see the benefits for Tasmania being in the Jetstar network is pretty massive," Mr Joyce said. "For us there are huge opportunities and those opportunities could involve international destinations out of a whole series of destinations like Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin."
Mr Joyce said the company wanted to establish its international operations before looking at new routes.
Domestically, Jetstar is also investigating the possibility of a direct service between Tasmania and the Gold Coast to cater for burgeoning demand to the region.
Despite rising fuel costs, Mr Joyce was adamant the discounting war with low-cost carriers Tiger and Virgin would continue. When the company started in 2003, fuel was at $30 a barrel -- at more than $120 a barrel now it accounts for 40 per cent of the airline's cost base.
Mr Joyce said Jetstar had absorbed those costs by purchasing modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, streamlining booking procedures and encouraging passengers to travel without luggage.
He said it did not want to introduce a fuel surcharge.
"If fuel gets over $200 a barrel, we may have some problems," he said.
This would agree with the rumor that JQ will add 2 x A320 to be based at OOL to match Tiger's probable 2nd Australian Base. Lets hope the flights are in the morning and not midnight specials like the HBA-BNE is now!
Can this be moved to the A&NZ Industry forum mods. I meant to put it in there!