Qantas to be major investor in low cost carrier based in Singapore

SINGAPORE : Australian carrier Qantas has entered the market for low cost airlines for Asia. It announced on Tuesday that it would be the major investor in a new intra-Asia low cost airline to be based in Singapore. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the airline would fly to a range of Asian cities within 5 hours of Singapore and operate a fleet of single aisle aircraft.

Qantas would own 49.9 per cent of the new airline, with 21.1 per cent owned by Tony Chew, Chairman of Asia Resource Corporation, and 10 per cent owned by FF Wong, Managing Director of QAF Corp. Both Mr Chew and Mr Wong are Singaporean businessmen. Temasek Holdings will own the remaining 19 per cent. The owners are investing a total of S$100 million with Qantas contributing half.

The airline will begin flying before the end of this year with 4 aircraft and its fleet is expected to build up to more than 20 aircraft over the next 3 years. - CNA

=====================

With this, we are seeing the 4th budget airline to be located here in just months....the competition is hitting up!

Oh I just told my friend the other day that there will be 3 LCC in Singapore by year end. Looks like it's gonna to get more exciting with the entrance of Qantas. I also presume the goverment is going to go ahead with the building of the low cost terminal at Changi now that there is enough LCC operating here. Anyway, I'm waiting to see how the airline fight this "battle" and how low the airfares is going to go.

If you see the Straits Times today, they are already speculating the possible carcasses from the battle! :D

APRIL 7, 2004
Singapore to get another budget airline
The low-fare carrier, to be started by Qantas, Temasek and two businessmen, could fly before the end of the year

By Karamjit Kaur

A FOURTH low-fare carrier in Singapore, backed by Australia's Qantas Airways and Singapore's Temasek Holdings, is in the works, a move that will boost Changi Airport's bid to add muscle to its status as an air hub.

The newcomer will be the fourth budget start-up in eight months, after Valuair, Singapore Airline's Tiger Airways and Malaysia's AirAsia, to fly out of Singapore.

And the news came in the most sudden of announcements. The media were alerted only three hours before Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon briefed the press at the M Hotel in Anson Road.

The new airline may be named Jetstar Asia, after its low-cost Australian-based cousin Jetstar, which is due to take off next month in competition with Richard Branson's Virgin Blue. A decision will be made soon, said Mr Dixon.

Qantas will own 49.9 per cent of the new $100 million carrier. 'It will be very easy for us to finance the $50 million. It's two wings of a jumbo jet,' said Mr Dixon.

Temasek, which already owns 11 per cent of rival Tiger Airways, will take a 19 per cent stake in the yet-to-be-named carrier, with two businessmen taking up the remainder.

Temasek also said it was not ruling out the possibility of further investments in the industry. Said its spokesman: 'We see this as a potentially attractive investment, in the same way we saw Tiger Airways as another potentially attractive investment.

'There is good growth potential in the low-cost carrier space in Asia and low-cost carriers can stimulate new demand and grow the market pie.'

Mr Dixon explained why Singapore had been chosen as the base: 'We have always found Singapore to be a very, very good place to operate from, and Changi, I believe, is just the outstanding airport of the world.'

The newbie plans to start flying before year-end, with four single-aisle aircraft.

But it will first have to get its air operator's certificate, to operate commercial flights out of here, said the Transport Ministry.

Valuair, Tiger Airways and AirAsia are waiting for their applications to be approved.

On average, this takes up to nine months but Qantas' start-up could get its wings sooner, given the Government's push to make Changi an attractive hub for low-cost operators, observers said.

Qantas' decision to set up shop here, said the ministry's spokesman, 'demonstrates its long-term confidence in and commitment to Singapore, and will greatly strengthen Changi Airport's role as a hub airport'.

On Monday, when Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew met SIA's senior management and representatives of its five unions, he made it plain that if Singapore blocked low-cost carriers from using Changi Airport, the airport 'will be bypassed and we will lose our air hub status'.

So much was riding on Changi's air hub status that, if it came to choosing between preserving SIA's status and Changi's standing, the Government would choose Changi, he said.

With four low-cost carriers gunning for regional business, some analysts see the looming battle ending with at least one going belly-up.

But Mr Dixon sees Qantas' 'modest' investment in this new venture as 'an excellent opportunity to participate in the growing intra-Asia travel market'.

He said: 'This is an opportunity for Qantas to grow and we believe it will be very profitable... We must take opportunities as they arise.'


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.


APRIL 7, 2004
One More Low-Cost Carrier
Big boys seem to have the edge
Transport Ministry says it will give preference to airline that will best benefit country and Changi Airport

By Karamjit Kaur and Goh Chin Lian

FOUR players have thrown their hats into the ring to set up low-cost carriers here but it will not be a case of first-come-first-served when the Government decides who gets a licence and where and how often they can fly.

The Transport Ministry said yesterday it will give preference to the airline that brings the 'most benefits to Singapore and to Changi Airport' as it competes with other regional airports to retain its air-hub status.

Although Qantas is the last of the four to enter the fray, after Valuair - set up by Singapore Airlines (SIA) veteran Lim Chin Beng - SIA's Tiger Airways and Malaysia's AirAsia, the ministry hinted yesterday that the Australian-backed entrant might not be the last to get the licence.

On average, it takes six to nine months for the papers to be processed, but the spokesman said that 'we have reached a sufficient level of understanding with them (Qantas) which will enable the processing to take place smoothly and speedily'.

Industry observers say the ministry's comments yesterday clearly give the two budget carriers backed by heavyweights Qantas and SIA a distinct advantage over the other two in getting their licences processed speedily and also in securing both their choice of destinations and frequency of flights.

Only after the licence is issued, can the airlines apply for these rights to fly to the destinations of their choice, most of which are within a five-hour radius.

If the carriers are competing for the same destinations and there are not enough air rights to go around, the ministry will look at an airline's 'ability to leverage on their networks elsewhere and their ability to strengthen Singapore as a regional aviation hub'.

Making it clear the big boys have the advantage, the spokesman said: 'In terms of value-add to Changi and Singapore, Qantas stands out as it has obvious strengths and advantages.

'The new carrier's operations will tie in with that of its parent airline and help the parent airline consolidate its operations here.

'It can also leverage on its parent airline's global marketing network to bring more traffic to and through Singapore.'

Analysts also pointed out that by giving the Qantas-backed venture priority, Singapore could be seeking to strengthen its bargaining position with Australia when talks resume for an Open Skies Agreement (OSA) between the two countries.

Asked about this, the ministry spokesman said: 'Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and Minister Yeo Cheow Tong had agreed last year that they would work towards an OSA once the industry stabilises.

'Qantas' announcement clearly shows that this is indeed the case. We hope that Singapore and Australia can now progress to sign a full OSA in the very near future.'

Does all this spell bad news for the two smaller budget carriers, especially AirAsia, which has already faced problems with the ministry in getting permission to take its passengers by bus to Senai Airport?

In typical fashion, chief executive officer Tony Fernandes brushed aside the possibility that AirAsia would be at the bottom of the list when it came to getting its licence and air rights.

He told The Straits Times yesterday: 'We should top the list because we know what we are doing but I don't think it will be the case.

'It will be fun watching the kangaroos and tigers from across the border.'


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Qantas actually thinks its "just" a few millions to invest, and is so confident of itself! :D

Qantas actually thinks its "just" a few millions to invest, and is so confident of itself! :D

Can Singapore sustain 4 LCC's i wonder.....but Temasek looks like it's betting on Tiger and the Quantas startup...I wonder whether it's wise to invest in 2 companies which will be competiting against each other tho....

yup..I wonder what their game plan is. To squeeze the other 2 out or to ensure they have at least 1 winning forumla?

Hm....it seems like the airlines are popping up faster then the liberalisation of aviation pacts? Quite contrary to Europe, which happened the other way round! :D

all rushing to Singapore too;)

all rushing to Singapore too;)
Any wonder why it is Singapore and not some other Asian city? :D

Any wonder why it is Singapore and not some other Asian city? :D

I don't know if this is true (no offence)......could it be because Singapore has a reputation for being the testing hotbed for new business in the region??

Hahaah....I feel it is more likely because Singapore has a 100% open-skies policy? There arent many other airports in the region which is as liberal as that!

Hahaah....I feel it is more likely because Singapore has a 100% open-skies policy? There arent many other airports in the region which is as liberal as that!

High possibility.....if I'm not wrong Australia's airlines has the freedom to use Singapore as a hub......which is why I think Qantas LCC is based here.....

High possibility.....if I'm not wrong Australia's airlines has the freedom to use Singapore as a hub......which is why I think Qantas LCC is based here.....
Yeah...and why so many airlines, including Emirates, Garuda, and even Royal Brunei Airlines, prefer to use us as a hub as of now! :D

Btw Temasek holding is everywhere ! 1st tiger airways then Qantas jetstar asia....and now in jakarta..Monorail and MRT system !! :D :lol:

cheers

Singapore is the best location as hub, location and economically....also the airport landing/parking fee is among the cheapest one in Asia.
I've heard many times that The Singaporean government will try very hard to defend changi as the main hub, by opening and inviting many company to set up LLC in Singapore, but thats including sacrificing major airlines like SIA :(
I hope SIA wont lose their market though , as its one of the best airline in the world.

cheers

Btw Temasek holding is everywhere ! 1st tiger airways then Qantas jetstar asia....and now in jakarta..Monorail and MRT system !! :D :lol:

cheers
They are scary....they seem to buy up everything except Liverpool FC? :D

Tell them to buy MU instead :lol: :rofl:

cheers

Business Times - 23 Jun 2004

SALE delivers first of three leased A320s to Jetstar

(SINGAPORE) Australia's new budget airline Jetstar Airways has taken delivery of its first aircraft, an A320 on lease from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE). The Singapore company is leasing a total of three new A320s to Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary of Qantas Airways.

A SALE statement said the new aircraft touched down at the carrier's home base in Melbourne on Monday, following a delivery flight from the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse, France. The second and third aircraft are scheduled for delivery next month, followed by the first of 20 aircraft ordered directly from Airbus arriving towards the end of the year.

All the aircraft are powered by IAE V2500 engines and feature a single-class layout with 177 seats. 'The low-cost segment is a key area of growth in the Asia Pacific region and will serve to stimulate additional traffic on short to medium range point to point services,' said SALE managing director Robert Martin.

SALE, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and has a fleet of 60 aircraft and 31 customers worldwide.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hmmm....they only just started Jetstar in Australia, and already wants to start one in Singapore? Kinda too agressive I suppose?

Business Times - 13 Aug 2004

Qantas' budget unit signs leasing deal

Pact covers 8 jets but low-cost outfit will start flights at year-end with 4

AUSTRALIA'S Qantas said yesterday its Singapore-based low-cost carrier had signed agreements to lease eight Airbus planes in preparation for the start of operations later this year.

Con Korfiatis, CEO of the still unnamed carrier, said in a statement issued here, that the first A320 plane would be delivered in October. The carrier will begin flights at the end of the year with an initial fleet of four. He did not say where the aircraft would be leased from.

The new carrier has applied for its Singapore Air Operator's Certificate and will seek traffic rights to Asian cities within five hours' flying time from Singapore, the statement said.

The airline is 49.9 per cent owned by the Australian flag carrier. Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings owns 19 per cent, while prominent Singapore business executives Tony Chew and FF Wong own 21.1 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.

The airline will be the latest addition to the Asian budget carrier market, which is already becoming crowded. Last month, Tiger Airways, which is backed by Singapore Airlines, took delivery of its first jet - also an A320 - as it prepares to enter the market also later this year.

Malaysia's AirAsia is the region's dominant no-frills carrier.

Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon had suggested previously the Singapore-based budget carrier could be called Jetstar Asia, a play on Qantas' low-fare domestic airline which took off in May.

Airbus regional spokesman Anthony Phillips said the A320 is the aircraft of choice for other Asian low-cost carriers such as Singapore-based Valuair and India's Air Deccan and Kingfisher. - AFP

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Finally there is news. :D I actually suspected they might get cold feet watching just how competitive the prices have become for flights out of Singapore. ;)

Finally there is news. :D I actually suspected they might get cold feet watching just how competitive the prices have become for flights out of Singapore. ;)

Lots of news from Tiger recently, I wonder how long will we have to wait b4 we hear from Qantas....??? :)

Latest News | Updated Sept 6, 7.50 pm (Singapore time)

Qantas' S'pore-based budget offshoot to fly in December

By Karamjit Kaur

QANTAS' new Singapore-based airline will take delivery of its first aircraft at the end of next month and start flying in December.

Chief operating officer Con Korfiatis told The Straits Times that the yet-unnamed airline has not received its Singapore licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (Caas), but sources say the green light will come soon.

Qantas had expected to get its licence by the end of last month, according to its chief executive Geoff Dixon, when spoke at the National Press Club in Canberra in May.

The carrier is 49.9 per cent owned by Qantas. The other shareholders are Temasek Holdings with a 19 per cent stake, and two Singapore businessmen - Mr Tony Chew, 57, who owns 21.1 per cent and Mr Wong Fong Fui, 60, the remaining 10 per cent.

While waiting for its licence, the airline has been recruiting staff. By the time it starts flying, the airline will have 200 staff and four planes.

The start-up, which may be named Jetstar Asia after its low-cost Australian-based cousin Jetstar, will be the third Singapore-based budget airline.

First was Valuair which started in May, followed by Singapore-backed Tiger Airways, which will launch its inaugural flight to Bangkok next week.

Other low-cost carriers in the region are Malaysia's AirAsia and its sister company, Thai AirAsia.

^
Just heard that on the news.......maybe we'll hear something "concrete" from Jetstar really soon......:yes:

I might actually consider flying to Bangkok this december...wanna come along? :D I hope that Jetstar Asia (or whatever it gets called) will being flights with some nice promotion in the same month! :D

I might actually consider flying to Bangkok this december...wanna come along? :D I hope that Jetstar Asia (or whatever it gets called) will being flights with some nice promotion in the same month! :D

Haha.....I would if I can make the time.....though I quite unsure of my schedule in December now.....I 'm sure there will be more promotion then....keeping my fingers crossed......:yes:

Hmmm.....hopefully 4 of us can go. We can share a hotel, and can take advantage of airfare promotions! :D

As we speak, the base price just got halved from $40 to $19.99! :banana:

Hmmm.....hopefully 4 of us can go. We can share a hotel, and can take advantage of airfare promotions! :D

As we speak, the base price just got halved from $40 to $19.99! :banana:

Wow...thats great news.....but then got 4 person mair??

I think some discounts are based on 4 pax flying together, and some 2 lah. I didnt check the latest prices, but even SIA is selling their seats for less then $150 each now, provided two fly together! :eek:!

I think some discounts are based on 4 pax flying together, and some 2 lah. I didnt check the latest prices, but even SIA is selling their seats for less then $150 each now, provided two fly together! :eek:!

Woah then it's SIA for me......:D

Muahaha...the irony is that I seem to want budget airlines now only because they can cause the main carriers to slash their fares too! :D

Muahaha...the irony is that I seem to want budget airlines now only because they can cause the main carriers to slash their fares too! :D

Haha....there will be more budget carriers coming up to cause more slash....:lol:

Hmm since Tiger offer S$1 dollar fare, then Thai Airasia S$0.49, I wonder if Jetstar will offer it for free.......:lol:

Hmm since Tiger offer S$1 dollar fare, then Thai Airasia S$0.49, I wonder if Jetstar will offer it for free.......:lol:
Yeah loh I am wondering too! :D

Seriously, how could all three airlines be fighting (and remaining) on one sector: Singapore-bangkok!!

Yeah loh I am wondering too! :D

Seriously, how could all three airlines be fighting (and remaining) on one sector: Singapore-bangkok!!

Aiyah not like they want what......unless others open their doors loh......:lol:

Hopefully the ASEAN aviation liberalisation movement will gain steam soon. I notice it was due for a review?

Hopefully the ASEAN aviation liberalisation movement will gain steam soon. I notice it was due for a review?

I hope they could do this faster........it's beneficial for the budget airlines......:yes:

wow...another one!!, seems like Singapore is like a "Budget Hub" !!...:D

wow...another one!!, seems like Singapore is like a "Budget Hub" !!...:D

Hopefully there will be more to come......maybe the next one is Nok Air??:)

Flying here is one thing lah....hubbing here is another! :D

Flying here is one thing lah....hubbing here is another! :D

Hubbing........Hmm.....I'm not sure if they want another LCC to hub here anot......seems like they haven't look into Airasia application to operate in Singapore........

I think I saw news today that Valueair will be flying to Perth by the end of this year?

I am holding my breathe!

I think I saw news today that Valueair will be flying to Perth by the end of this year?

I am holding my breathe!

Haha....now you can relax......Valuair will be flying to perth in Dec....:eek:

More details here......
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=2257467#post2257467

Budget carrier to fly Singapore-Perth route
Singapore-based budget carrier Valuair will begin flying to Perth in December.

The airline says it is also looking to open routes into China.

Valuair's public relations manager, Nilesh Pritam, says that prices have yet to be set for flights to Perth.

However, the airline is aiming to continue its policy of being 40 per cent cheaper than the major airlines.

Valuair was the first budget carrier to begin operating from Singapore in May this year and already flies to Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong.

Mr Pritam says the airline has chosen to expand its operations to Perth, a five-hour flight away, ahead of other destinations because of the city's popularity with Singaporeans for holidays, living and studying.

"The number of Singaporeans living there are tremendous," Mr Pritam said.

Singapore Airlines and Qantas are currently the only airlines to fly between Singapore and Perth with normal return fares priced at about $A680
http://www.abc.net.au/wa/news/200409/s1203197.htm

I cant take any issue with their choice of destination in Australia, but I take issue with how long they take to make this obvious decision! :D

Seems like Qantas is lowering it's fares......saw on the newspaper today that travel deals to Australia go as low as $328(with airfare, hotel stay etc).....

Seems like Qantas is lowering it's fares......saw on the newspaper today that travel deals to Australia go as low as $328(with airfare, hotel stay etc).....

It amazes me no end to see how cheap it is for people from overseas to fly to Australia. Airfares bought here in Australia are at least double what you guys in S'pore pay! I'm so envious. S$328 is like A$280. You'd be lucky to fly from Perth to Singapore and back for anything less than A$700 on crappy Qantas - I hate that airline. At Xmas, we have to pay up to $1100!!! Valuair will finally make it fairer for us in Perth to get the same deals as you guys up in S'pore.

It amazes me no end to see how cheap it is for people from overseas to fly to Australia. Airfares bought here in Australia are at least double what you guys in S'pore pay! I'm so envious. S$328 is like A$280. You'd be lucky to fly from Perth to Singapore and back for anything less than A$700 on crappy Qantas - I hate that airline. At Xmas, we have to pay up to $1100!!! Valuair will finally make it fairer for us in Perth to get the same deals as you guys up in S'pore.
Is it?? Ironically, Singaporeans forever fume due to the fact that SIA tickets are sold so much more cheaply outside Singapore then within it!

I suppose this pricing policy is replicated in many of the more successful airlines?

Qantas budget carrier, Australian airlines also started to fly from Perth to Bali 4 times a week in December. www.australianairlines.com.au for details :D

cheers

Qantas budget carrier, Australian airlines also started to fly from Perth to Bali 4 times a week in December. www.australianairlines.com.au for details :D

cheers
But do they really consider Australian Airlines a budget carrier, when they have Jetstar as well?

But do they really consider Australian Airlines a budget carrier, when they have Jetstar as well?

I think Australian Airlines is something like Silkair instead........

I still waiting for any concrete news about Jetstar(actually more about what kind of offers it'll introduce).........

Australian airlines might be for medium haul flight or like babystan said as "silkair", meanwhile jetstar asia for the LCC market. I think the idea of Jetstar in Australia is to encounter Virgin Blue, same goes within Asia, to dogfight with Air Asia.

Its sure interesting to see! :D

cheers

Australian airlines might be for medium haul flight or like babystan said as "silkair", meanwhile jetstar asia for the LCC market. I think the idea of Jetstar in Australia is to encounter Virgin Blue, same goes within Asia, to dogfight with Air Asia.

Its sure interesting to see! :D

cheers

Yup.......interesting to see how low they can go and yet survive.....:lol:

Since Airasia has already lower the fares to 29 cents, maybe Jetstar will give free tickets when it launch?? :D

Haha thats should be cool!

do you know when this jetstar asia will "officialy" launch?


cheers

We only know its confirmed to be sometime in December? Most like it will be in the early part of that month since its the peak of the travel season? ;)

We only know its confirmed to be sometime in December? Most like it will be in the early part of that month since its the peak of the travel season? ;)

Good news nonetheless.......more "excuse" to travel?? ;)

AUSTRALIAN AIRLINES TO FLY PERTH-BALI SERVICES
Australian Airlines announced today that it would begin flying twice each week between Perth and Bali from 2 December, almost doubling the number of seats offered by the Qantas Group on this route.

Australian Airlines Chief Executive Andrea Staines said Australian Airlines would offer 542 seats each week from Perth to Bali using its all-Economy Class Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

"This will be Australian Airlines' first service from Perth and it will see us expand our operations between Australia and Bali to seven flights each week," Ms Staines said. Australian Airlines currently operates three flights a week from Sydney to Bali and two flights a week from Melbourne to Bali.

"For many people in Western Australia this will be the first time they travel with Australian Airlines."

"We are a full-service, single class, international airline that flies to holiday destinations," she said. "We offer all the 'frills' passengers expect from a full-service airline including complimentary meals and snacks, Australian wines, spirits and beer as well as inflight duty free shopping."

"Being a leisure airline, we want you to feel like you are on holidays from the moment you step on board so we offer the latest inflight movies, an inflight magazine and audio programs."

Ms Staines said Australian Airlines' two weekly flights on Thursdays and Saturdays were conveniently timed with afternoon departures from, and arrivals into, Perth. These flights are subject to government approval.

Qantas will continue to operate on Tuesdays only until 1 February when it will withdraw its services.

"This means that during the peak holiday period between December and January, there will be two Australian Airlines flights and one Qantas flight between Perth and Bali each week offering 686 seats."

From 1 February, Australian Airlines will be the Qantas Group's sole operator of flights between Perth and Bali. For more information call 13 13 13 for airfares or Qantas Holidays for packages on 13 14 15.



Australian Airlines to Launch Perth-Bali Service
Australian Airlines, Qantas' budget Asian offshoot, said it plans to begin flying from Perth to Bali in December.

Australian Airlines chief executive Andrea Staines said the carrier would operate two Boeing 767-300 flights per week from Perth to Bali, almost doubling the number of seats offered by the Qantas group on the route over the peak holiday period.

The tourist-oriented airline currently operates three flights per week to the Indonesian resort island from Sydney and two flights per week from Melbourne, reported AFP.

Staines said that Qantas would scrap its weekly flight from Perth to Bali from February 1, making Australian the group's only airline operating on the route.

Qantas launched Australian Airlines was in October 2002 to service the Australia-Asia leisure market.



Extra flights to Bali
MOVES by Qantas and Garuda Indonesia to ramp up capacity on the Perth-Bali route suggest the bombing of Australia's embassy in Jakarta has done little to dampen enthusiasm for the holiday isle.

Qantas announced yesterday it was pulling its mainline flights off the competitive route and replacing them with bigger Australian Airlines planes offering almost double the number of seats.

Garuda Indonesia is boosting by almost half again the number of Perth-Bali flights from October 1.

The full-service, all economy Australian, started as a low-cost operation in 2002, allows Qantas to operate on leisure routes which the mainline carrier finds uncompetitive.

Qantas mainline will continue flying one flight a week until February 1 to cope with summer demand.

Australian's arrival on December 2 marks the first Perth-based services by the carrier and will see twice-weekly mainline Boeing 737 flights replaced with Australian's bigger Boeing 767-300s.

However, Garuda will complement its existing daily service with three additional flights per week on peak travel days.

"The demand we are seeing is consistently so great that we simply have to add flights to keep up with both economy and premium executive class bookings," said West Australian sales manager Rob Moro.

Finally Jetstar Asia is launched.......:eek:

Business Times - 29 Sep 2004

Qantas launches Singapore-based no-frills carrier

SINGAPORE - Qantas has launched Jetstar Asia, a Singapore-based no-frills airline and vowed to remain 'standing at the end' of the region's budget airline war, despite entering an already crowded market as fuel prices surge to record levels.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the 100 million Singapore dollar Jetstar Asia will commence flying within 10 weeks - ahead of the Christmas holiday season - to destinations within 5 hours of Singapore.

Qantas declined to reveal Jetstar Asia's destinations but airline chief executive Con Korfiatis said they would be announced over the next few weeks.

Jetstar Asia will begin operations with four silver, black and orange Airbus A320s and plans are afoot for more when its routes begin taking shape.

It is the latest in a slew of Asia-based budget airlines.

Singapore's Valuair and Singapore Airlines-owned Tiger Airways, Thailand's Nok Air and Indonesia's Lion Air all joined pioneer AirAsia from Malaysia in a fight for the budget market.

Low fares have also forced other carriers like Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways to respond with cheap deals and promotional fares.

Qantas owns 49 per cent of the airline while the Singapore government investment arm Temasek Holdings controls 19 per cent.

Two other businessmen from the island nation, Tony Chew and FF Wong, hold the remaining stakes.

Temasek is a majority shareholder in Qantas' rival Singapore Airlines - which Mr Dixon said had taken a three per cent stake in the Australian carrier - but brushed aside any talk of a conflict of interest from Temasek.

The airline's launch comes as the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, warned earlier this week that high fuel costs will cause airlines to bleed heavily.

It predicts carriers could lose between US$3 billion to US$4 billion this year alone.

Mr Dixon added : 'We will be affected like every other airline in the world. We're starting at a time when oil is at a record level...We'll be alright with that'.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Qantas' Singapore Budget Carrier to Fly by End-2004
Sept. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia's biggest airline, said its new Singapore-based budget carrier will start flights by the end of the year as it awaits certification from the city-state's government.

The carrier, called Jetstar Asia, will start flying four leased Airbus SAS A320s to destinations within five hours of Singapore, giving it access to a region with about 2 billion people, the Sydney-based company said in a statement. The airline plans to operate 20 aircraft within three years.

Jetstar Asia will become the ninth low-cost carrier in the past 18 months to start flights in Southeast Asia, which is home to 500 million people. The airlines expect to emulate the success of Southwest Airlines Co., Ryanair Holdings Plc and other budget carriers in the U.S. and Europe, which have captured about 20 percent of the total market for air travel.

``They are going to be successful -- it's a very dangerous thing to underestimate the public's desire to travel at low prices,'' said Tim Ross, an analyst at UBS Securities in Hong Kong. ``However, compared with the U.S. and Europe, I don't think the model will be a direct translation of the success with so much more of the flying limited by air-service agreements.''

The lack of air-service agreements between Asian countries means Jetstar Asia and rival budget carriers may initially be limited to flights between Singapore and one other destination, Ross said.

Price Cuts

In Asia, the arrival of budget airlines has forced full- service carriers such as Thai Airways Ltd. to cut prices, with some fares falling to as low as 17 cents.

Ross has ``buy'' recommendations on the shares of Qantas and Singapore Airlines Ltd., the city-state's national carrier, because he expects cost-cutting efforts will allow the companies to compete against budget rivals. He said full-service carriers will continue to dominate the market for so-called long-haul flights to destinations beyond Asia.

Jetstar Asia named Con Korfiatis as its chief operating officer. He was the chief financial officer of Ansett International and a former Singapore Airlines marketing manager.

Jetstar Asia plans to hire 200 people, including the 45 pilots and 50 cabin crew it has already recruited. Its aircraft will each carry 180 passengers.

The airline plans to fly to destinations within five hours of Singapore, an area that includes Shanghai, most of India, and may also include Perth, in Western Australia, Korfiatis told reporters.

Qantas owns 49.9 percent of Jetstar Asia. Singapore's Temasek Holdings Pte, a state-owned investment company, owns 19 percent, while Singapore businessmen Tony Chew has 21.1 percent and Wong Fong Fui 10 percent. Temasek is also the majority shareholder of Singapore Airlines.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aXlz660biHLk&refer=asia

Great news! I am interested and anxiously waiting for their routes!

:cheers:

cheers

More on Jetstar Asia. :D

SEPT 30, 2004

Jetstar Asia to start flying in Dec

Qantas-backed $100m budget carrier, S'pore's third after Valuair and Tiger, has yet to reveal flight venues, prices

By Karamjit Kaur

THERE are advantages in being third, according to Singapore's newest budget airline, Jetstar Asia. And the main benefit is that one can learn from the mistakes of those who are ahead.

Being first is not always a good thing, declared Mr Geoff Dixon, chairman of the new $100-million carrier, which is backed by Australia's Qantas Airways.

'As a matter of fact, I often think it's best to wait and see how others destroy themselves and then you come in and pick up some of the pieces.'

He added: 'I don't believe it makes any difference when you start... Not at all.'

Jetstar is starting in December, seven months after Valuair took off, and three months later than Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger Airways.

But Mr Dixon, who is also the chief executive officer of Qantas - which has a 49.9 per cent stake in Jetstar - dismissed concerns that a later entry or today's record-high oil prices would affect its chances of success.

He said at a press conference yesterday to unveil the airline's logo and cabin crew: 'I don't know where the other airlines will end up, but I can assure you that Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Australia - Qantas' budget airline based in Australia - will still be around in three or four years' time.'

On fuel prices, he said: 'We'll be affected like every other airline in the world. We'll be all right with that.'

He also updated the media on what the airline has been up to so far.

But he declined to say where the carrier's first destinations will be, other than that they would be no more than five hours from Singapore, or even hint at how much tickets might cost, saying only that this will be announced after Jet- star gets its licence to operate out of the Republic.

However, the timeframe puts most of Asia, including some cities in India and China, within its range, as well as Perth and Darwin in Australia.

Asked to comment on the price war between Tiger and AirAsia which has seen 29-cent deals for a one-way flight to Phuket, he said: 'You can't assume that just because people have an inaugural fare for the first two months to... get publicity that they'll continue to have that kind of fare structure.'

Jetstar will 'match' competitors' fares and focus on branding and customer service to be one step ahead, he said. However, it will not serve meals. Whether seating will be free is still being decided.

The airline - whose other stakeholders are Temasek Holdings (19 per cent) and Singaporean businessmen Tony Chew, 57 (21.1 per cent) and Wong Fong Fui, 60 (10 per cent) - will have four silver, black and orange Airbus A320s by January. It plans to expand its fleet to more than 20 aircraft in three years.

It will have about 200 staff when it starts. At the moment, 45 pilots and more than 50 cabin crew - some of whom turned up at yesterday's event in their black, orange-trimmed cheongsam-like uniforms - are being trained.

Jetstar intends to use its website as its main vehicle for sales but prospective passengers will also be able to book through a call centre.

On whether the new airline will eat into Qantas' business, Mr Dixon said that while Qantas flies between Australia and destinations in Asia, it does not fly intra-Asian routes which is what the new carrier will do.

He said: 'Jetstar Asia will in fact fill this gap.'

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-09-30/h2.jpg
A later entry will not affect the success of Jetstar Asia, says chairman Geoff Dixon (seated) Singapore's newest budget carrier. With him are some of the cabin crew in their black, orange trimmed uniforms. -- LAU FOOK KONG

Business Times - 30 Sep 2004

Jetstar Asia will outlive rivals and take their place: Qantas chief

It aims to compete through its unique service and culture

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Low-cost airline Jetstar Asia will still be around when its rivals have bitten the dust - and then it could move in to mop up their remains, the boss of its biggest shareholder said yesterday.

Asked how Jetstar - Singapore's newest low-cost carrier (LCC) - will survive the bruising competition when it starts flying in December as a relative latecomer, Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said: 'I am not sure it is always the best to be the first off the mark in aviation.'

'I don't know where the other (low-cost) airlines will end up. But I can tell you that Jetstar Asia will still be around in three or four years. I often think it's best to wait to see how everybody else destroys themselves, and then you come in and maybe pick up some of the pieces.'

Jetstar, which is 49 per cent owned by Qantas, will be up against Singapore Airlines associate Tiger Airways, Valuair and Malaysia's AirAsia - among others.

It will fly to destinations within five hours' flying time of Singapore using 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. And according to chief operating officer Con Korfiatis, this puts Shanghai in China - as well as most of India - within its reach.

Other potential destinations include cities in Thailand, Indochina, Indonesia and the Australian cities of Perth and Darwin.

Mr Dixon told a news conference here yesterday to mark Jetstar's launch that the airline will do well despite high fuel prices. 'We will be affected by oil price just like every other airline in the world,' he said.

'But we are going to be as competitive as any other LCC, and will differentiate ourselves by the service and culture that has made Qantas one of the most successful airlines in the world. Anyone who has run a legacy airline knows all about getting costs and markets right. The (LCCs) that are best capitalised will be the ones to survive.'

Besides Qantas, Jetstar's other shareholders are Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings with 19 per cent, entrepreneur and Del Monte Pacific boss Tony Chew with 21 per cent and Boustead chairman FF Wong with the remaining stake.

Jetstar is Temasek's fourth airline investment. It already controls Singapore Airlines, has an 11 per cent stake in Tiger Airways and owns three per cent of Qantas, which it picked up recently when British Airways sold its 18.25 per cent holding in the Australian flag carrier.

For Mr Chew and Mr Wong, Jetstar is their second airline investment after Myanmar Airways International, which they bought into in 1992. They sold their stakes to the Myanmar government in 1998.

Jetstar will begin operations with two leased Airbus A320s. The fleet will grow to four by early next year and to about 20 by end-2007.

The company, which introduced some of its cabin crew yesterday, said it will eventually have more than 200 staff, including 45 experienced pilots and 50 cabin crew already on board. Mr Dixon said there will also be a 'significant infusion' of experienced management personnel from Qantas and sister airline Jetstar Australia.

'This is a very serious and major investment by Qantas, and Qantas will have a significant managerial role in the airline,' he said. More appointments will be made shortly.

Although Jetstar Asia will not have interline arrangements with Qantas, Jetstar Australia and Qantas offshoot Australian Airlines, the three companies will have 'significant' operational co-ordination.

Mr Korfiatis said Jetstar Asia talking to Singapore aviation officials about possible use of the proposed $45 million low-cost terminal at Changi.

The company is also talking to several Singapore-based aerospace engineering companies before appointing one to handle its fleet maintenance.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 30 Sep 2004

Top Qantas exec named to head Jetstar Asia

By GEORGE JOSEPH

(SINGAPORE) A senior executive with Qantas Airways, who was at one time with Singapore Airlines (SIA), has been named to head the latest Singapore-based budget airline, Jetstar Asia.

A chartered accountant by training, Con Korfiatis was introduced by Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon yesterday as the chief operating officer of the new airline, which is expected to begin flights in December. A CEO for the airline has not yet been named.

Jetstar Asia becomes the new kid on the block after SIA's Tiger Airways and ex-SIA deputy chairman Lim Chin Beng's Valuair, had taken off in the race for a slice of the growing regional market for low cost carriers.

Mr Korfiatis, who as head of strategy projects at Qantas, was responsible for the Australian airline's group strategy and alliance initiatives, will operate out of Singapore and start expanding his management team soon. Before Qantas, he worked with Ansett Australia and SIA in various roles, including as a marketing manager with SIA and as Ansett's commercial director and chief financial officer.

With 11 years in the airline industry, his experience is largely in Australia, but his stint with Ansett, when he was part of a team establishing international operations for the now-defunct carrier, brought him in contact with Asian countries and operations in the region.

Mr Dixon told a press conference here yesterday that Jetstar Asia will be a Singapore company with infusion of quality managers from several other places. He said a Singaporean will be named soon as the director of operations, and more will join the company as it puts in place its Singapore-based team.

Mr Korfiatis, a Monash University graduate and a former senior manager with chartered accountants Ernst & Young, is all primed for the new job and to take on the competition. He told BT yesterday that Qantas and its Singapore partners are in for the long haul as a low-cost carrier. 'Given decent air rights within Asia, we will be in the long term a viable business and very profitable.'

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

^
Ex-SIA staff again??? Hmm......now thats interesting........:lol:

Then actually the three of them (Jetstar, Valuair, Tiger airways) have three guys from SIA, rite? :lol:

cheers

Then actually the three of them (Jetstar, Valuair, Tiger airways) have three guys from SIA, rite? :lol:

cheers

Right....haha.....:D I wonder if this is intentional??

Right....haha.....:D I wonder if this is intentional??
Interntional? Hmm.....it just goes to show how each of them are trying to sneak something out of SIA or what? :D

Interntional? Hmm.....it just goes to show how each of them are trying to sneak something out of SIA or what? :D

Maybe they need someone who knows SIA inside out?? :eek:;)

More on Jetstar Asia. :D

SEPT 30, 2004

Jetstar Asia to start flying in Dec

Qantas-backed $100m budget carrier, S'pore's third after Valuair and Tiger, has yet to reveal flight venues, prices

By Karamjit Kaur

'As a matter of fact, I often think it's best to wait and see how others destroy themselves and then you come in and pick up some of the pieces.'



Wah Jetstar's boss so wicked....... :devil: :lol:

I supposed it's a bit early to see who's the real victor in this budget war??

Business Times - 30 Sep 2004

Jetstar Asia will outlive rivals and take their place: Qantas chief

It aims to compete through its unique service and culture

By VEN SREENIVASAN

Mr Korfiatis said Jetstar Asia talking to Singapore aviation officials about possible use of the proposed $45 million low-cost terminal at Changi.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hmm.....hopefully they'll use the terminal.......:yes:

I wonder how much traffic can the 4 budget airlines bring to the budget terminal(or changi as a whole)??

Perhaps only Valueair wont move...they seem to be quite happy differentiating themselves from normal LCCs, and normal airlines too! :D

I like valuair! Cause it flies to Hong Kong! at a reasonable price and my impression of it is good. My impression of Tiger Airways is satisfactory only but it would improve if they flew to Hong Kong too. And it being a no frills airline, prices would be even lower than the average S$228 return Hong Kong ticket.

I like valuair! Cause it flies to Hong Kong! at a reasonable price and my impression of it is good. My impression of Tiger Airways is satisfactory only but it would improve if they flew to Hong Kong too. And it being a no frills airline, prices would be even lower than the average S$228 return Hong Kong ticket.

I recently saw an offer by Garuda at Zuji.com.....offering S$226(excluding tax) to Hongkong.........:eek:

If only the savings were much more...

If only the savings were much more...

We might see bigger savings if Tiger and Jetstar decided to fly to Hongkong......:eek::D

Imagine...200 or less sg dollars to hk...cheap!!!!!!!!!Its almost like flying to KL...

Imagine...200 or less sg dollars to hk...cheap!!!!!!!!!Its almost like flying to KL...

But flying to KL is S$378 including tax leh......... :bash: Thats more expensive than flying to HK.......:eek:

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 20 October 2004 1654 hrs

ST Aerospace wins US$47m Jetstar Asia maintenance contract
By Chua Chin Chye, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia has picked ST Aerospace to handle its fleet maintenance.

ST Aerospace will support Jetstart's fleet of up to eight Airbus-320s. The deal, worth US$47 million, will stretch over five years.

For ST Aerospace, Jetstar is the fourth low-cost carrier it has struck a deal with, after Valuair, Malaysia's AirAsia, and Indonesia's Merpati Airways.

Jetstar is a partnership between Qantas and local investors, and is expected to begin flying by year-end to destinations within a five-hour radius.

Likely destinations include Perth, Darwin, Shanghai and New Delhi.

"We have our aircraft arrive in less than three weeks now. And we have another two aircraft following that, by end November," said Con Korfiatis, chief operating officer at Jetstar Asia.

"We are in the process of obtaining our air operator certificate, which we hope to have sometime during the month of November. At this stage, we plan to launch our flights in early December this year."

Jetstar says it will announce destinations after it gets its licence.

The global aircraft maintenance market is estimated at US$38 billion annually, and ST Aerospace says it wants a bigger piece of the pie, especially with more legacy airlines outsourcing their maintenance due to cost pressures.

"We hope we are very well-positioned. We have a total capability of all Boeing aircraft, all McDonnell aircraft, and all Airbus aircraft that are in production today," ST Aerospace president Tay Kok Khiang said.

"On the other hand, we have engine capabilities, components capabilities, maintenance planning capabilities, engineering design capabilities. So we have a one-stop centre, a total capability to do everything."

Come December, Jetstar will start operations with 200 staff, and a fleet of up to four Airbus-320 jets, which will expand to eight aircraft by end of next year.

The total aviation support programme will cover line, light checks and base maintenance, including engineering and technical services. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

Imagine...200 or less sg dollars to hk...cheap!!!!!!!!!Its almost like flying to KL...
Its already possible to get $200 on a normal airline using priceline....so maybe I should be hoping for even lower prices then that! :D

Its already possible to get $200 on a normal airline using priceline....so maybe I should be hoping for even lower prices then that! :D

But then for priceline, it depends on your luck.........

Since they open the "lucrative" Sg-perth route now, maybe they'll extend it to other aussie cities like Darwin.........

But then for priceline, it depends on your luck.........

Since they open the "lucrative" Sg-perth route now, maybe they'll extend it to other aussie cities like Darwin.........
Darwin? Neh...unlikely. In fact, it seems like Perth is the only Australian city that can be served by budget carriers..unless Valueair thinks they can force passengers to endure longer flights all the way to Melbourne and Sydney?

Most of the other city's demand seem too small to sustain the high traffic needed for the routes to be profitable?

Darwin? Neh...unlikely. In fact, it seems like Perth is the only Australian city that can be served by budget carriers..unless Valueair thinks they can force passengers to endure longer flights all the way to Melbourne and Sydney?

Most of the other city's demand seem too small to sustain the high traffic needed for the routes to be profitable?

Oh ok.....seldom hear ppl going to Darwin anyway.......:yes:

Perhaps Perth could serve as a hub for passenger to go to other places in Australia.......I wonder how viable is that??

Oh ok.....seldom hear ppl going to Darwin anyway.......:yes:

Perhaps Perth could serve as a hub for passenger to go to other places in Australia.......I wonder how viable is that??
It can if they somehow link up with Australia's budget carriers. Which is why I feel Valuair should consider tying up with Virgin Blue or something. Then again, maybe SIA will prefer to fight for a tie up with tigerair and them instead...since SIA already owns 49% of virgin atlantic? :D

JetStar Asia Selects TIMCO

GREENSBORO, N.C., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TIMCO Aviation Services Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TMAS) announced today that Singapore-based JetStar Asia awarded TIMCO's subsidiary, Brice Manufacturing Company (Brice), with reconfiguration for a new economy seat program that includes more than 20 shipsets to accommodate new Airbus A320 aircraft.

This low-cost Asian carrier is a partnership between Temasek Holdings, Qantas Airways and two Singaporean investors, with Qantas holding a 49 percent share. The new contract follows the selection of new Brice seating by Air New Zealand, Air Asia and JetStar Australia, reflecting the growing market acceptance of TIMCO products in the region.

Gil West, President and COO of TIMCO, said the company's continuing strong performance with the JetStar Australia program was a significant factor in gaining the JetStar Asia business. "Brice Manufacturing has become a world leader in commercial aircraft seat manufacturing, seating components, and seat modification and refurbishment services, and is now the seating vendor of choice for more than 30 airlines."

TIMCO Aviation Services Inc. is among the largest providers of fully integrated aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for major
commercial airlines, regional air carriers, aircraft leasing companies, government and military units, and air cargo carriers. Four locations make TIMCO one of the largest independent providers of heavy aircraft maintenance
MRO services in North America. Aircraft Interior Design, Inc. and Brice
Manufacturing Company specialize in the refurbishment of aircraft interior
components and the manufacture and sale of PMA parts and new aircraft seats.

TIMCO Engineered Systems, Inc. provides engineering services to MRO operations and external customers. TIMCO Engine Center, Inc. refurbishes JT8D engines and performs on-wing repairs for both JT8D and CFM-56 series engines. Visit TIMCO online at http://www.timco.aero .

Launched by Qantas Airways, JetStar Asia serves the Singapore market.

It can if they somehow link up with Australia's budget carriers. Which is why I feel Valuair should consider tying up with Virgin Blue or something. Then again, maybe SIA will prefer to fight for a tie up with tigerair and them instead...since SIA already owns 49% of virgin atlantic? :D

But it seems like the australia authorities are not very keen in developing perth into a hub......rather they want it to be a destination.......:yes:

I think AirAsia will team up with Virgin Blue when they fly to Australia next year.

Does Valuair has any cooperation or alliance with any Australian carrier?

cheers

But it seems like the australia authorities are not very keen in developing perth into a hub......rather they want it to be a destination.......:yes:
Who noes what they are doing. The fact is that the closest Australian hub...other then tiny Darwin, is Perth, and it will naturally be targetted not only by Singapore-based budget carriers, but Indonesian and Malaysian ones too.

Who noes what they are doing. The fact is that the closest Australian hub...other then tiny Darwin, is Perth, and it will naturally be targetted not only by Singapore-based budget carriers, but Indonesian and Malaysian ones too.

I suppose that make perth a natural hub (as I previously predicted)??

I suppose that make perth a natural hub (as I previously predicted)??
hmm...you might be right....if it ends up being a budget hub? :D

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 10 November 2004 1448 hrs

Jetstar Asia takes delivery of first Airbus 320

Jetstar Asia took delivery of its first plane on Wednesday ahead of its launch in December as the third budget airline to operate from Singapore's Changi Airport.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpUiTTob.jpg

Jetstar Asia's vice president for operations, Gregory Thompson, told reporters on board the aircraft, an Airbus 320, at Changi that the airline was determined to match the low fares of its rivals.

"The airfares will be competitive obviously and they will be sustainably competitive," Thompson said.

"We will be at the lower end of the low-cost carriers regardless of what it takes."

Thompson, however, stressed the airline's determination to drive down cost would not come at the expense of quality.

"Low cost doesn't mean low class," Thompson said.

Jetstar Asia is expecting two more A320s to arrive in the next few weeks before the airline starts flying in December.

The airline will announce details of its fare and route structure in the next two to three weeks, Thompson said.

Jetstar Asia has said before it will fly to destinations within five hours from Singapore.

The airline is 49.9 percent owned by Australian national carrier Qantas, with the other stakes held by the Singapore government's Temasek Holdings and two prominent local businessmen.

Budget carriers Valuair and Tiger Airways began operations in Singapore this year. Pioneering no-frills carrier AirAsia has also started flying between Bangkok and Singapore although it is not based in the city-state. - AFP

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 10 November 2004 1819 hrs

Jetstar Asia seeks to be different by flying longer routes
By Melvin Yong, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore's newest budget carrier, Jetstar Asia, is seeking to differentiate itself from its competitors.

In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, Jetstar says it plans to fly farther than its rivals to make up for its late entry into the Singapore market.

Chief operating officer Con Korfiatis was quoted as saying Jetstar will fly anywhere within a five-hour radius of Singapore.

It is looking at destinations as far away as Shanghai, Mumbai Perth and Darwin.

Such a route map will differentiate Jetstar Asia from its Singapore-based rivals, which are focusing on shorter routes like Bangkok and Phuket.

And if the airline can start flying to China within a year, it will be well positioned to take advantage of the expected traffic boom generated by the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Singapore-based Jetstar is 49-percent owned by Australia's Qantas Airways.

It expects to start commercial flights in December, after taking delivery of its first aircraft on Wednesday -- an Airbus A320. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

Nov 11, 2004
Jetstar Asia to offer fixed seating

Jetstar Asia took delivery of its first aircraft yesterday, saying it will reveal where it will fly to and its fares in two to three weeks.

Its chief operating officer, Mr Con Korfiatis, told The Straits Times it is looking at Taipei, Hanoi and points in the Philippines, among other destinations within five hours by air from Singapore.

While Tiger Airways and Malaysia's AirAsia, and its sister airline Jetstar based in Australia, have free seating, Jetstar Asia plans to allocate seats, like Valuair does.

Mr Korfiatis explained: 'From the market studies we've done, we feel customers for our business here would value the added service, and since it won't increase our costs by too much, there is no impact on the fares.'

The carrier starts flying next month and will have three planes by Dec 25.

Singapore's first low-cost carrier, Valuair, flies to Bangkok, Jakarta and Hong Kong, and will strike out to Perth next month. Tiger has services to Bangkok, Phuket and Hat Yai.

Before it can fly anywhere, Jetstar Asia - a partnership between Australia's Qantas, Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings and two Singapore businessmen - has to apply to the Transport Ministry for air traffic rights.

This will be done when it gets its licence to operate out of Singapore from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, it said.

Its vice-president (operations), Captain Gregory Thompson, said the carrier will be low-cost but not low-class.

Only the best have been picked as its cabin crew, who will don black uniforms with an orange trim, he stressed. And its 180-seater aircraft looks smart, with grey leather seats to match the aircraft's body, and touches of orange on the seats and overhead compartments.

Like Tiger, AirAsia and most budget airlines, Jetstar Asia will not be throwing in free meals. Passengers can buy food and drinks on board. -- KARAMJIT KAUR

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Jetstar Asia will avoid 'crazy PR' fares

Thursday • November 11, 2004

Fares that are competitive but not gimmicky are what travellers can expect from Singapore's third low-cost carrier, which is likely to start flying next month.

Jetstar Asia — which is 49.9-per-cent owned by Qantas Airways — promises to have a transparent fare structure, with tickets that will be cheaper than low-frills airline Valuair and some 40 per cent less than full-service carriers, said its head of marketing Dorit Grueber.

As Jetstar Asia took delivery of its first 180-seater Airbus A320 plane yesterday, Ms Grueber said that it would "avoid the crazy PR (public relations) fares" that low-cost carriers Tiger Airways and Malaysia's AirAsia had offered.

AirAsia had retaliated against Tiger's limited one-way $1 promotional fares with one-way 49-cent and 29-cent deals to Bangkok and Phuket, respectively.

"There's a difference between promotional fares and gimmick fares," noted Ms Grueber.

"Theirs (the competitors) are not promo fares, they are PR fares," she said.

As with Tiger and AirAsia, there will be a range of drinks and cold and hot food for sale.

However, unlike typical budget carriers, passengers on Jetstar Asia will have allocated seats and a 20-kg baggage allowance.

Jetstar Asia hopes to receive its air operator's certificate in two or three weeks, at which time it will also announce its destinations and fare structures.

The budget carrier will be looking at an "interesting mix of routes" within five hours flying time from Singapore, said vice-president of operations Gregory Thompson.

This puts Shanghai in China and most of India, as well as Australian cities Darwin and Perth, within reach.

Jetstar Asia will have three A320 aircraft by the end of next month .

The airline plans to expand its fleet to more than 20 aircraft within three years.

Besides Qantas, Jetstar Asia's other shareholders are Temasek Holdings and Singapore businessmen Tony Chew and Wong Fong Fui. — Tay Tsen-Waye

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Qantas-backed Jetstar Asia receives first airplane
"The first Jetstar Asia plane arrived at Changi Airport, and is set to enter Southeast Asia's LCC service in December.

Jetstar Asia Airways Pte. Ltd. plans to fly to Shanghai, China, Bombay, India, Perth and Darwin in Australia, and anything in between.

The airline Jetstar Asia is expecting two more A320s to arrive in the next few weeks before the airline starts flying in December.

"We will be at the lower end of the low-cost carriers regardless of what it takes." said Jetstar Asia's vice president for operations, Gregory Thompson.
And "Low cost doesn't mean low class," Thompson said.

Jetstar Asia Airways Pte. Ltd. is 49% owned by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. with the other stakes held by the Singapore government's Temasek Holdings and two prominent local businessmen.

Jetstar Asia Airways starts after Singapore Airlines'-owned Tiger Airways and six months after Singapore-based Valuair Ltd.
http://www.luchtzak.be/article6466.html

Its just too bad that Australia's bigger cities are all on the other side of the continent except Perth, or we will have a much easier time getting there. :D

Its just too bad that Australia's bigger cities are all on the other side of the continent except Perth, or we will have a much easier time getting there. :D

Hopefully the budget airlines help push the price of full service airlines to the bigger cities lower......then we'll be happy......:colgate:

Well, if they can establish a hub at Perth, and then allow us to transfer to another budget flight to Sydney, then we might still have our dreams fulfilled. I dont know how much cheaper that will be thou?

Well, if they can establish a hub at Perth, and then allow us to transfer to another budget flight to Sydney, then we might still have our dreams fulfilled. I dont know how much cheaper that will be thou?

Right now it seems almost the same or even cheaper(when there are offers) to fly straight to the big cities......so I'll say it's not worth the trouble......:yes:

Come to think of it...any idea how much a sg-sydney ticket costs now?

Come to think of it...any idea how much a sg-sydney ticket costs now?

A check at airfare.com.sg shows that(exclude tax)....

Non-stop
Qantas/British airways- S$930(peak season)

SIA- S$915(peak season)

Gulf air- S$700 (S$860 peak season)

Require transfer

Royal Brunei - low season S$428
high season S$536

Malaysia Airlines - low season S$450
high season S$514

Garuda - low season S$610
high season S$688

!!!! Do you by any chance have the fares of budget carriers from Perth to Sydney? :D

!!!! Do you by any chance have the fares of budget carriers from Perth to Sydney? :D

Virgin blue- A$219 (S$273) excluding tax......

So if you fly valuair to perth.....S$350+S$273 = S$623 (exluding tax):eek:

Hm...$600 compared to $900. Actually not bad liao eh? :D

Hm...$600 compared to $900. Actually not bad liao eh? :D

But 600 compare to 700(gulf air) and 450(malaysia airlines)??? :bash: Don't suond too budget at all........:lol:

Aye..but the high low season thingy....is that a fixed price?

Aye..but the high low season thingy....is that a fixed price?

Actually thats no such thing as fixed price......price flutuate according to market needs.......but I notice the prices flutuate within a certain range.....like SIA it's between S$860-S$980 (unless got special offer sometimes....can go as low as S$600)........

Hmm.....the budget prices are fixed meh? I tot Jetstar Asia and Virgin Blue not fixed one?

Hmm.....the budget prices are fixed meh? I tot Jetstar Asia and Virgin Blue not fixed one?

The price i quote are the offer price btw......sometimes get higher when the demand increases.....:eek:

Hmm...you mean that is the base price for virgin Blue etc? Dosent seem very cheap leh...

Hmm...you mean that is the base price for virgin Blue etc? Dosent seem very cheap leh...

Thats the offer price.......:yes:

I think a direct flight on offer is more value for money.......

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Jetstar aims to fly above the fray

Amid rising competition, budget carrier plans to be first in region to offer in-flight entertainment

Tuesday • November 16, 2004

Shobha Tsering Bhalla
shobha@newstoday.com.sg

JETSTAR Asia, which took delivery of its first aircraft on Wednesday, is looking at introducing in-flight entertainment features amid intensifying competition in the low-cost segment of the industry.

The latest entrant into Singapore's increasingly-crowded skies which had started off as a strictly "no frills" airline at its launch two months ago may now be adding electronic in-flight entertainment on a "pay-per-use" basis said its chief operating officer Con Korfiatis.

"The fact that people have to buy food on flight does not mean there will be no entertainment, at least on our longer routes. We're not sure what form this entertainment will take but electronic entertainment is a possibility," he told Today.

If this happens, Jetstar Asia will be the first budget airline in South-east Asia to offer in-flight entertainment — a tool that experts hail as the "big differentiator" in an industry where ticket prices are roughly similar across the board.

Interestingly, Virgin Blue — an archrival of Jetstar Asia's sister concern in Australia — has already thrown down the gauntlet by announcing it will introduce live television services from the middle of next year.

Virgin Blue plans to charge a fee of A$5 ($6.37) for the service which can be activated with a credit card and provides unlimited use on a one-way flight.

In-flight entertainment is the new buzzword among budget airlines anxious to get an edge over the competition.

Still, perks like in-flight entertainment are ephemeral attempts to create differentiation, say experts and they go against the fundamental trend in airline travel — the commoditisation of airplane seats.

But that has not stopped other budget airlines like JetBlue Airways and the low fare arms of United and Delta — among others — from offering in-flight entertainment.

In Europe, in-flight entertainment is taking a new twist with Ryannair planning to offer in-flight gambling.

The Dublin-based budget carrier — Europe's largest — has just started offering in-flight entertainment on a pay-per-use model.

The driving force behind this change of heart among budget carriers is increasing airline competition and consumer demand, say experts.

Earlier this year, even the United States' most successful budget airline — Southwest — was reportedly toying with the idea of introducing in-flight entertainment.

Some industry watchers fear that budget airlines like Southwest, which have significant cost advantages over their full-service counterparts, may be sacrificing their advantages by providing in-flight entertainment.

That goes for Jetstar Asia too. Just how competitive can Jetstar Asia keep its fares if it introduces in-flight entertainment?

Very competitive, said Mr Korfiatis.

Adding in-flight entertainment would not be "at the cost of our low pricing structure".

"What we'll never do is put frills on our aircraft that would have an (adverse) impact on our fares. Some other guys are looking to giving it free but that would affect their fare structure.

"We don't plan to do that. Our view is that at the end of the day, the consumer won't be prepared to pay a significant amount more for entertainment. So, it would be on a user-pay basis and structured," he said.

In fact, if Jetstar Asia goes for pay-per-use entertainment it might actually reap attractive revenues.

Ryannair, which is introducing in-flight entertainment on five of its planes this month on a pilot run, expects the service to lift revenues by at least euro 14 million ($30 million) in the first year.

The airline needs only 3 per cent of its passengers to use the portable entertainment units to cover its costs.

In-flight entertainment or no, Mr Korfiatis stressed that fares would be low and readily available.

"We will be providing very low everyday fares year-round instead of just a few very gimmicky low fares that have very limited availability and more of an irritation factor."

The need to provide entertainment on board may be crucial to Jetstar's business plan as its routes are believed to include destinations that are an hour longer than those covered by most Asian budget carriers which fly within a four-hour radius.

Mr Korfiatis said Jetstar Asia was looking at routes to Shanghai, China, Mumbai, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Perth and Darwin in Australia, and anything in between.

The airline expects to start commercial flights in mid-December — two months after Singapore Airlines'-owned Tiger Airways took off, and six months after Singapore-based Valuair.

It has appointed Red Card as its advertising agency and will be launching a regional advertising and branding campaign soon.

The low-cost Asian carrier is a partnership between Temasek Holdings, Qantas Airways and two Singaporean investors, with Qantas holding a 49-per-cent share.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

You guys saw the link between this airline and that of SIA trying to get permits to fly out of Australia into the US? Seems like this airline's existance might end up hinging on the outcome of the later now! :lol:

Talk about arm twisting. ;)

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 19 November 2004 1233 hrs

Jetstar Asia awarded Singapore Air Operator's Certificate
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has awarded Jetstar Asia with its Air Operator's Certificate, clearing the way for the new low-cost carrier to commence commercial flights from Changi Airport.

A statement from Jetstar says the certificate allows it to begin the process of formally applying for traffic rights for the destinations it hopes to begin flying to, starting next month.

The approved routes and fare structure will be announced within the next few weeks.

Jetstar Asia's first aircraft arrived in Singapore last week.

The low-cost carrier plans to begin serving multiple destinations throughout Asia before the peak holiday period next month. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

Didnt expect it to come so fast. I suppose the Australian government will have to be abit "nicer" in the open skies negotiations? :D

Didnt expect it to come so fast. I suppose the Australian government will have to be abit "nicer" in the open skies negotiations? :D

Don't place your bet on it......:lol:

Don't place your bet on it......:lol:
fine fine...I know Singapore has just lost a little trump card! :D

fine fine...I know Singapore has just lost a little trump card! :D

But maybe Singapore just want to 以退为进?? :lol:

blablablabla. I hate it when my teachers and friends use such words to explain something haha. Gets me thinking, what the heck do they mean. Luckily I understand what you are saying.

blablablabla. I hate it when my teachers and friends use such words to explain something haha. Gets me thinking, what the heck do they mean. Luckily I understand what you are saying.

The role of the teacher is to make the students think mah......:lol:

Anyway, Jetstar did not reveal its destination yet right??

WOOHOO! Check this out!!!! :D

Posted: 25 November 2004 1809 hrs

Jetstar Asia to start flying to seven routes from Singapore

SINGAPORE : Asia's newest budget carrier, Jetstar Asia, says it will fly to seven destinations from Singapore when it starts operations next month.

The airline will initially have flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Pattaya, Jakarta, and Surabaya.

It plans to open up more routes early next year.

Jetstar did not give any price details, or say exactly when it will start flying in December.

Those details, it says, will be out in the next two weeks.

Jetstar had said previously that it wants to differentiate itself by flying further than its competitors in this region to make up for its late entry into the market.

Two other Singapore-based budget airlines, Valuair and Tiger Airways, now fly to a number of Asia-Pacific cities, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Perth and Jakarta -- but not to mainland China, Taiwan or the Philippines.

The Malaysian no-frills carrier, AirAsia, also flies between Bangkok and Singapore but is not based in the city-state.

Jetstar is 49 percent owned by Australia's Qantas Airways.

Its other stakeholders are Singapore investment firm, Temasek Holdings, and two Singapore businessmen. - CNA

WOW! 7 destinations. Valuair only started with 3 and so did Tiger Airways.

And now its possible to fly economy (SIA), mid frills (Valuair) and no frills (Jetstar Asia) to Hong Kong and Jakarta!

OMG 7 destination.....:eek: Wow....it's time to travel........:D

YYYEEEEHHAAAA!!!! Shanghai!!! Taipei!!! YOOHHOOO!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

Notice Manila even...smart of them. I was wondering whats taking these airlines to long ot take advantage of that route! :D

Singapore Changi Airport
- 3 Budget Airlines (Valuair, Jetstar Asia, Tiger Airways)
- 11 Asian Cities

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Notice they havent annouce any flights to Australia yet? :D

Huaiwei is because the SG - OZ route is already served by Australian Airlines, Qantas budget carrier for Asian international flights, eventhough its not direct flight.

Australian airlines is flying from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu then Sydney,
Singapore to Denpasar,Bali then Sydney/Melbourne.

Jetstar doesnt want to fly Australia because it will destroy the SG-OZ market by Qantas and Australian airlines, Smart move eh? :D

Anyway, I am happy with this news! :cheers:


Cheers

Haha...another carrier on the Jkt-sg route! :D

And they are the first to go beyond Jkt to fly to Surubaya too. they are certainly taking too long to go to all those big markets in Indonesia, Denpasar in particular.

But you consider Australian Airlines a budget airline, btw?

Business Times - 25 Nov 2004

Jetstar Asia announces 7 routes

SINGAPORE - Jetstar Asia, Qantas Airways' no-frills carrier, announced on Thursday seven new destinations it will serve out of Singapore, including Shanghai, in a move sure to raise the stakes in Asia's cutthroat budget aviation market.

The company - which is to take to the skies next month - will also touch down in Hong Kong, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila, plus the East Java port of Surabaya and the Thai beach town of Pattaya.

Three of those seven routes will open from December, with the rest to be added in stages from next year, the company said in a statement without saying which would be the first or the exact dates the services would start.

"This is just the beginning," said Jetstar Asia Chief Operating Officer Con Korfiatis. "But it's also indicative of the types of destinations we'll be flying to; some expected, some not expected."

Jetstar Asia's planned route network is ambitious compared with those of its Singapore-based rivals Valuair and Tiger Airways, both of which started operations earlier this year. It also underscores the growing competition in Southeast Asia for discount air travellers.

Low-cost air travel has boomed over the past three years since Malaysia's AirAsia demonstrated that the business model worked just as well in Asia as it had in the United States and Europe.

But Asia's expanding crop of new cheap carriers is already starting to do things differently from predecessors elsewhere, notably by trying to expand the pool of potential customers by servicing longer routes.

Conventional aviation industry wisdom in developed markets held that the no-frills carriers were appropriate only for routes of up to three hours' flying time. But many of the new services in Asia target cities that are four or even five hours away.

Jetstar Asia is 49 per cent held by Qantas, Australia's national carrier. Its other significant backers include Temasek Holdings which holds 19 per cent.

Mr Korfiatis said Jetstar Asia would be the first international carrier to serve Pattaya, a Thai resort about two hours' drive south of Bangkok.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

But you consider Australian Airlines a budget airline, btw?

During the press conference 2 years ago, Australian airlines destinated as budget carrier. The tickets is cheaper than Qantas and they dont serve IFE.

Anyway, with this jetstar asia coming next year, I am inviting you guys to Surabaya, we got the biggest chinatown in indonesia there, the foods are delicious! :D

cheers

During the press conference 2 years ago, Australian airlines destinated as budget carrier. The tickets is cheaper than Qantas and they dont serve IFE.

Anyway, with this jetstar asia coming next year, I am inviting you guys to Surabaya, we got the biggest chinatown in indonesia there, the foods are delicious! :D

cheers
Haha.....I might just consider shuttling all over Asia soon indeed! :D


Anyway, this is actually the first time I see Australian Airlines being classified as an LCC? It seems to belong to the "grey" area region, which even includes Lion Air? I remember the Lion Air boss insisting they are not one?

I dont know exactly what they means but maybe Australian airlines is Silkair? Does silkair serves IFE and first class seating? for sure, Australian airlines is all economic class airlines and dont serve IFE.:D

Dude, maybe you can just touring asia and makes Huaiwei 2005 asian tour! :lol:

cheers

Haha....I may indeed do it coz I will be graduating, and I feel like going around to celebrate! :D

Hmm...silkair has no first class, but it has a business class, and serves IFE. It is definitely not an LCC by any definition, plus the fact that the tickets simply arent cheap! :lol:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/images/jp1234.gif

Jetstar Asia to start flights to China, Philippines, Indonesia

SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Jetstar Asia, the international budget unit of Qantas Airways Ltd., will fly to cities in China, Indonesia and the Philippines after it starts services next month, the airline said in an e-mailed press release.

The third Singapore-based low-cost airline will begin by flying to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, Pattaya, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila, giving it the widest destination range of any of the nine budget carriers based in Southeast Asia.

Jetstar plans to "grow the market by making air travel more accessible to more customers," chief operating officer Con Korfiatis said.

Jetstar Asia, which also counts Singapore's state investment agency Temasek Holdings Pte as a shareholder, will compete with Singapore Airlines Ltd.'s budget unit, Tiger Airways Pte, and Singapore start-up Valuair Pte for passengers out of their sharedChangi Airport base.

Ticket sales will begin before Dec. 9, and more routes will be added in early 2005 as the airline takes delivery of more Airbus SAS A320 aircraft, the statement said, without providing details.

Jetstar will fly to destinations within a five-hour radius of the city-state, giving it access to a region with about 2 billion people, Korfiatis said in September.

Nov 26, 2004
Jetstar Asia to break into China market

No-frills carrier gets nod to fly to Shanghai as well as six other regional destinations
By Karamjit Kaur
Transport Correspondent

SINGAPORE-BASED Jetstar Asia will be the first budget airline to break into the fast-growing mainland Chinese aviation market.

The Qantas-backed carrier has received approval from the Singapore authorities to fly to Shanghai in China and six other regional destinations: Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila, Pattaya in Thailand, and Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia.

Jetstar, which begins operating next month, will not begin servicing all seven destinations immediately, however.

Chief operating officer Con Korfiatis told The Straits Times: 'We will start next month with three destinations.

'But we are still waiting for the permits from the relevant authorities in the other countries, so we are not prepared to confirm the exact destinations at this time.'

Jetstar Asia hopes to fly to the remaining destinations from next January.

'We've always said that the success of our business will be predicated upon our ability to grow the market,' Mr Korfiatis said.

'By Jetstar Asia being the first regional low-cost carrier to enter and service markets like Shanghai, Taipei, Manila, Surabaya and Pattaya, that's precisely what we're setting out to do.'

Fares will be announced in about two weeks.

'The fares will show everyone that we're very committed to providing real value to our customers.'

The big question is whether the airline will emulate Tiger Airways' big bang September launch, when it offered $1 return fares to Thailand.

Unlike Tiger Airways and Jetstar's other Singapore-based rival, Valuair, the new airline will not be servicing the Thai capital.

Mr Korfiatis said: 'We believe that at this time, there is enough capacity in that market, but we are not ruling it out in future.'

Like other budget airlines, Jetstar Asia will not provide free meals. But unlike Tiger and AirAsia, it will allocate seats.

Like Valuair, it will have a maximum 20kg baggage allowance per passenger, compared to 15kg for Tiger Airways.

Meanwhile, those who want to be the first to know about the fares and special offers should register their details at www.jetstarasia.com

Aside from Qantas, Jetstar Asia's stakeholders are the Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings and two prominent local businessmen.

Seems like a Hongkong, Shanghai, Taipei 3 cities trip is going to be rather popular if fares were to be cheap enough........:yes::D

Hmmm....Shanghai in particular siah. Not so sure about Taipei thou....the passenger flows to Taiwan in general is not that high, was it? SIA dropped the Kaoshiung route during the SARS epidemic (I think), and didnt reinstate it so far.

Hmmm....Shanghai in particular siah. Not so sure about Taipei thou....the passenger flows to Taiwan in general is not that high, was it? SIA dropped the Kaoshiung route during the SARS epidemic (I think), and didnt reinstate it so far.

Not that sure about it.....but from what I heard last time, it seems like Taipei is not as popular as HK or shanghai as a destination for Singaporeans........maybe Jetstar new route would generate some new demand for Taipei......:yes:

Not that sure about it.....but from what I heard last time, it seems like Taipei is not as popular as HK or shanghai as a destination for Singaporeans........maybe Jetstar new route would generate some new demand for Taipei......:yes:

If the 5566 and F4 rage continues on, there might just be demand. Everyone loves Taipei because of these pop groups.

Quite a sizable number of Taiwanese students come to Singapore each year to study too, there should be some base demand.

Also, Taiwanese businessmen are sure entrepreneural and rich! Surely they would want to come to Singapore. haha.

If the 5566 and F4 rage continues on, there might just be demand. Everyone loves Taipei because of these pop groups.

Quite a sizable number of Taiwanese students come to Singapore each year to study too, there should be some base demand.

Also, Taiwanese businessmen are sure entrepreneural and rich! Surely they would want to come to Singapore. haha.

I wonder if taiwanese fans will come to Singapore (and vice versa) if their idol(for instance Jay Chow) held a concert in the indoor stadium??

Siao lah...hahaha! the only major industry connections between the two seems to be in the comnputing and high tech industries, such as wafer fabs. Other then that, they are probably more utilised to fly onwards to America. :D

Siao lah...hahaha! the only major industry connections between the two seems to be in the comnputing and high tech industries, such as wafer fabs. Other then that, they are probably more utilised to fly onwards to America. :D

Not siao actually......last week went to Jay Chow concert in Singapore....and guess what? the fours guys sitting beside me.....two from china and two from Taiwan......:eek:

Wah serious ah....these must be the die-hard fans chasing them all over the world lah! :lol:

Jetstar Asia's website finally up.......:D

http://www.jetstarasia.com/

Saw that long ago lah...muahahaha. Added the stuff to wiki even.

Jetstar Asia has to have a marketing campaign like the Jetstar one here.

Let's fly Jetstaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

06 December 2004

Jetstar Asia starts flights with launch of Hong Kong route next week

SINGAPORE : Jetstar Asia will take to the skies for the first time when it flies to Hong Kong one week from now at a promotional fare of 48 Singapore dollars (29 US) for a one-way ticket, the Singapore-based budget carrier said.

On December 16, the Qantas-backed carrier will launch its Taipei route at a promotional fare of 88 dollars for a one-way trip and services to the Thai resort of Pattaya will begin four days later with a special fare of 28 dollars one-way, it said.

Chief operating officer Con Korfiatis said the airline will announce details of four other routes -- Shanghai, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila -- at a later date.

"We are very excited about these destinations ... they represent destinations that customers have a huge interest in," Korfiatis said at a media briefing to announce the airline's launch date.

"They represent markets in which at the moment there is no low-cost carrier competition and we will be the first low-cost carrier into many of these markets," he said.

The promotional fares are available on all seats during the first week of operations on all three routes, Jetstar Asia said.

Thereafter, the one-way fare to Hong Kong will start from 88 dollars, with Taipei from 118 dollars and Pattaya from 59 dollars.

Tickets sales will start Tuesday and can be purchased on the airline's website at www.jetstarasia.com or dialling directly to the Singapore call centre, Jetstar Asia said.

Jetstar Asia, the third budget carrier to begin operations in Singapore this year, is 49 percent owned by Qantas and 19 percent owned by Singapore government investment firm Temasek Holdings. The remainder is held by two local prominent businessmen.

The two other Singapore-based budget airlines, Valuair and Tiger Airways, fly to a range of Asia-Pacific cities including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Perth and Jakarta, but not to mainland China, Taiwan or the Philippines.

Pioneering no-frills carrier AirAsia of Malaysia has also started flying between Bangkok and Singapore but it is not based in the city-state. - AFP

Copyright © 2004 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 06 Dec 2004

Jetstar Asia seeks destinations in India, China

SINGAPORE - Budget airline Jetstar Asia on Monday announced cut-rate fares to its initial destinations of Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan and said it was seeking rights to fly to India and additional routes to China.

Singapore-based Jetstar Asia Pte Ltd, which is backed by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd, said a ticket to Hong Kong would start at a promotional S$48 each way with service beginning Dec 13.

A one-way fare to the Thai beach resort of Pattaya would start at S$29 beginning a week later, while service from Singapore to Taipei would start on Dec 16, with the price of a one-way ticket starting at S$88.

Jetstar's chief operating officer, Con Korfiatis, also said the airline would begin flying to Shanghai from January, but company officials were also eyeing other Chinese destinations south of the commercial centre.

He said the carrier was hoping that Singapore's 'very proactive' pursuit of trade deals with China and India would open up the possibility of new routes for Jetstar to those countries.

Mr Korfiatis said the impending free trade deal between the republic and New Delhi would likely result in new destinations such as Chennai and Bombay 'sooner rather than later' for the budget carrier.

Jetstar Asia is the third low-cost airline to be launched this year out of Singapore after Valuair and Tiger Airways - backed by Singapore Airlines Ltd.

'We have said from the beginning that our success will depend on our ability to grow the market and by becoming the first low-cost carrier to serve several major population centres,' Mr Korfiatis said.

The low-cost carrier's four other confirmed destinations - Shanghai, the Philippines capital of Manila, Surabaya and Jakarta in Indonesia - would be offered from January.

Mr Korfiatis said earlier that Jetstar Asia would differentiate itself from its rivals, including the region's low-budget pioneer, Malaysia's Air Asia Bhd, by flying longer-haul routes.

Singapore's aviation authorities have embraced the growth of low-cost fliers and are building a passenger terminal at Changi Airport specifically for discount airlines. It is set to open in 2006. Jetstar Asia is 49 per cent held by Qantas, Australia's national carrier. Its other significant backers include Temasek Holdings Ltd, the Singapore government's main investment arm, which holds 19 per cent.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dec 7, 2004

Jetstar Asia vies for HK market
Airline offers return fare from $176; experts don't expect more price-cutting as demand is high

BUDGET carrier Jetstar Asia is set to compete for the Hong Kong market with return airfares from $176.

But, analysts do not expect it to cause yet another round of fare-slashing, as one seen earlier this year.

In May, airlines cut fares when Valuair launched its flights to Hong Kong, but analysts said passenger numbers have been strong in recent months and there is enough demand for all the airlines in the market.

Currently, there are 202 passenger flights between Singapore and Hong Kong every week, and six carriers, including Singapore Airlines (SIA), Cathay Pacific Airways and Valuair ply the route.

The city is a popular destination for Singaporeans. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, there were 1.2 million visitors from South-east Asia in the first nine months of this year, of which 303,514, or about a quarter, came from Singapore.

Jetstar Asia, a new venture by Qantas, Temasek Holdings and two Singapore businessmen, starts ticket sales for its daily flights to Hong Kong, Taipei and Pattaya today.

Its once-daily flights to Hong Kong begin next Monday, and to mark the launch, all return tickets will cost $96 during the first week of operations. Thereafter, return tickets start at $176.

The company would not say how many tickets would be available at that price, nor what the upper price range was likely to be.

Valuair's return tickets to Hong Kong start at $238, while Cathay Pacific and SIA are have promotional tickets at $288 and $248 respectively.

Valuair spokesman Nilesh Pritam and an SIA spokesman both said their airlines would not cut fares in response to the new entrant.

Aviation analyst Vincent Ng of Standard & Poor's Asian Equity Research said: 'There will always be promotions, but drastic fare cuts are unlikely to happen as demand for air travel is now very high.'

Mr Seah Hiang Hong, head of research at Kim Eng Securities, feels that Jetstar Asia, with just one flight a day to Hong Kong with 180 seats, is unlikely to constitute a threat to the existing airlines.

At a media briefing yesterday, Jetstar Asia chief operating office Con Korfiatis said: 'We're entering Hong Kong because we see it as a strong market that can grow even further.'

Jetstar Asia also starts once-daily flights to Taipei from Dec 16 and Pattaya from Dec 20, at promotional return fares of $176 and $56 respectively for the first week, before rising to $236 and $118.

The carrier also has traffic rights to fly to Shanghai, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila, and will announce details to these routes at a later date, Mr Korfiatis said, adding that the aim is to launch them next month.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Bookings open today for latest budget airline Jetstar Asia

Tuesday • December 7, 2004

Ted Chen
tedchen@newstoday.com.sg

THERE won't be anything stopping travellers from logging onto Jetstar Asia's site when bookings open today.

At least that is what the low-cost carrier is hoping.

Interested budget travellers can purchase their tickets from 8:00am today by logging in to Jetstar Asia's online Navitaire booking engine at its website or phoning its call centre.

Apart from the flight launches, Jetstar Asia's chief operating officer Con Korfiatis told Today that his airline's marketing strategy over the next few weeks to several months will consist of an advertising blitz in newspapers, outdoor advertising on buses and other tactical forms of advertising using various mediums to raise brand awareness.

Although he declined to provide further details on these "other tactical forms of advertising" and the total budget for the marketing campaign, Mr Korfiatis revealed that Jetstar Asia was not just competing on price alone.

"The other carriers seem to be quite focused on just the price promotion element but we're putting more emphasis on who we are as a brand personality as well," he said.

What this translates into, according to Ms Dorit Grueber, Jetstar Asia's head of marketing, is to build a brand where various aspects of Jetstar Asia's operations such as its tagline "What's Stopping You?", its call centre, website, check-in process, onboard experience and promotional activities all help to form a "total branding experience".

The choice of the Esplanade as the venue for its latest press conference has led to some speculation that Jetstar Asia is positioning itself as a classier and possibly more upmarket low-cost carrier than competitors, such as Valuair, which has made a name for itself with gimmicky and innovative marketing techniques.

Just late last month, Valuair celebrated the launch of its flights to Perth with a well-publicised barbecue on the Padang.

The event attracted 1,800 visitors and was supported by Tourism Western Australia.

That may be an impressive branding exercise but who knows what branding stunts Jetstar Asia may pull up from Down Under?

A relatively newcomer to the local low-cost carrier scene, Jetstar Asia is a partnership between Australian airline Qantas, Temasek Holdings and businessmen Tony Chew and F F Wong.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Muahahaa......the site struggled through the morning and only recovered slightly from noon onwards!

Heard how SIA is severely cutting the fares for the Taipei route in response to Jetstar's offering? :D

Business Times - 13 Dec 2004

Jetstar Asia launches inaugural flight to Hong Kong

SINGAPORE - The first flight of Qantas-backed budget airline Jetstar Asia departed Singapore for Hong Kong on Monday, raising the number of no-frills airlines based in Singapore to three.

The Airbus A320 took off at 3:20 pm from Changi Airport with a full load of 180 passengers and six crew members on board.

Jetstar Asia Pte Ltd which is partly owned by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd will fly for the first time to Taiwan on Dec 16 and Thai beach resort Pattaya on Dec 20.

Flights to other regional destinations - Shanghai in China, Manila in the Philippines, and Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia - will be available from January 2005 onwards.

Jetstar's inaugural flight comes two months after Singapore Airlines-owned Tiger Airways took off, and six months after Singapore-based Valuair began operations.

Singapore has welcomed budget airlines and is building a terminal catering to discount carriers, expected to be completed in early 2006 at a cost of 45 million Singapore dollars.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heard how SIA is severely cutting the fares for the Taipei route in response to Jetstar's offering? :D

Less than NT4000, round trip coming on next year

Only 1/4 for the current sales dollars ;)

Less than NT4000, round trip coming on next year

Only 1/4 for the current sales dollars ;)
1/4? They say its more then 80% cut in ticket prices if bought from Singapore! Woohoo! :D

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Taufik adds star power to Jetstar Asia launch

Third Singapore-based budget airline takes off from Changi

Tuesday • December 14, 2004

Ted Chen
tedchen@newstoday.com.sg

SINGAPORE IDOL winner Taufik Batisah was the star guest at the launch of another rising star's inaugural flight to Hong Kong yesterday.

The 23-year-old singer was on hand to send off a planeload of excited Jetstar Asia travellers.

The newly-famous lad belted out several songs, wowing more than 300 people, including Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua, the guest of honour at the ceremony held to officiate the launch of Jetstar Asia's maiden flight.

Also present at the event was Mr Geoff Dixon, chairman of Jetstar's parent company, Qantas Airways.

Congratulating JetStar on its inaugural flight, Mrs Lim said the setting up of Jetstar Asia as a Singapore-based carrier was "testimony to the close relations between Singapore and Australia".

She noted that Qantas was the largest foreign carrier based at Changi, flying to Singapore from six Australian cities on 45 weekly passenger services, of which more than half go on to London and Frankfurt.

She said the latest investment by Qantas enabled it to tap into the wider aviation market in Asia.

Aggressive pricing by budget airlines like Jetstar are pushing scheduled carriers like Singapore Airlines (SIA) to cut fares.

In what market-watchers see as a reaction to the low promotional prices offered by the new carriers, including Jetstar, SIA has slashed its airfares between Taipei and Singapore by 85 per cent.

Some have called this move anti-competitive, which SIA has denied.

However, Mr Dixon, not known for his reticence, refused to be drawn into the debate. Responding to queries from the media, all that Jetstar's chairman would say was that he found SIA's move "interesting".

"They're out there competing. The depth of the cuts are quite large," he said.

Jetstar Asia's first flight to Hong Kong will be followed by its first flight to Taiwan this Thursday and to Pattaya on Dec 20.

Additional flights to Shanghai, Manila, Jakarta and Surubaya will start from next month.

The airline is the third Singapore-based low cost carrier to launch its operations and is also the ninth new airline to start operations at Changi Airport this year.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 14 Dec 2004

Jetstar Asia's maiden flight takes off for Hong Kong

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Jetstar Asia Airways took off from Singapore Changi Airport on its maiden flight yesterday, making it the third discount carrier to take to the skies from the world's 7th busiest airport.

Some 300 people, including the Minister of State for Finance and Transportation, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Australian High Commissioner Gary Quinlan, and Qantas and Jetstar Asia chairman Geoff Dixon watched 3K005 take off for Hong Kong at 3.20pm with a full load of 180 people on board.

All the passengers paid the week-long promotional fare of $48 for a one-way ticket. After that, tickets will start at $88 each way.

Jetstar Asia, which will have daily flights to Hong Kong, will be in direct competition with Valuair and Tiger Airways, which also operate out of Changi. Just across the Causeway, it faces competition from Kuala Lumpur-based Air Asia and Bangkok-based 1-2-Go.

Following the launch of the Hong Kong flights, Jet star Asia will start its daily flights to Taipei this Thursday, followed by the Thai beach resort of Pattaya next Monday.

Flights to Shanghai, Manila, Jakarta and Surabaya will start from next month.

The airline currently has three Airbus 320 planes, and will take delivery of at least four more next year. The airline said its www.jetstarasia.com website received over 3 million hits during its first week of sales operations. The online bookings, coupled with call centre reservations (6822-2288 in Singapore) and SingPost payment facilities, have accounted for massive interest in its initial destinations over the peak holiday period, it said.

With the launch of Jet star Asia, Changi Airport is now served by 75 airlines operating more than 3,700 flights to over 170 cities in 55 countries. It is the 5th budget airline flying into Hong Kong International Airport, after Valuair, Cebu Pacific of the Philippines, Orient Thai and Australian Airlines.

Besides Qantas' 49 per cent holdings, Jetstar's other shareholders are Temasek Holdings, which has a 19 per cent stake, and businessmen Tony Chew and Wong Fong Fui, who have 21 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

1/4? They say its more then 80% cut in ticket prices if bought from Singapore! Woohoo! :D

It is as resemble as CX to which sold @ HKG to SIN
The fare just quoted for HK$880 while budjet airlines being flied btw 2 points

Actually this kind of dirty ticket surly that many restriction was applied :D

FORGET IT>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Business Times - 15 Dec 2004

Jetstar Asia expects to be profitable in 1-2 years

(HONG KONG) Jetstar Asia, the international budget unit of Qantas Airways, said it expects to make a profit in one to two years.

The Singapore-based airline, which on Monday started flights to Hong Kong, will be profitable 'within a short period of time', Con Korfiatis, Jetstar Asia's chief operating officer, said in a television interview in Hong Kong yesterday.

Jetstar Asia is the third low-cost airline to operate out of Singapore after privately owned Valuair and Tiger Airways, which is controlled by Singapore Airlines. It also faces competition from other budget carriers in the region, including Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia Bhd and Bangkok-based 1-2-Go.

Passenger traffic in South-east Asia, which has a combined population of about 500 million people, is forecast to grow an average 6.1 per cent each year until 2023, compared with a global average of 5.2 per cent, according to Boeing. the world's second-largest maker of commercial planes.

Jetstar Asia will start daily flights to Taipei on Dec 16 and to Pattaya in Thailand on Dec 20. It also plans to start services to cities including Shanghai, Jakarta and Manila from January.

'We're interested in more destinations in China. We're also interested in Vietnam and more destinations in Thailand and Indonesia,' Mr Korfiatis said.

The airline, which is starting operations with four leased Airbus A320s, will have another four by the end of next year. The A320 can seat 150 passengers and has a maximum range of 3,000 nautical miles.

Singapore's investment company Temasek Holdings owns 19 per cent of Jetstar Asia. Singapore businessmen Tony Chew and Wong Fong Fui hold a combined 32 per cent stake.

Temasek, which is the majority shareholder of Singapore Airlines, also holds 11 per cent of Tiger Airways. - Bloomberg

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dec 17, 2004
All eyes on Jetstar debut touchdown in Taiwan
Local carriers and aviation watchdog monitor budget airline's first flight

By Lawrence Chung
Taiwan Correspondent

TAIPEI - SINGAPORE-based Jetstar Asia made its inaugural flight to Taiwan yesterday, landing at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport at 5.30pm.

The budget airline's first such flight was fully loaded with 175 passengers. It was 80 per cent full for its return journey to Singapore an hour later.

Officials from Jetstar, Singapore's representative office in Taipei and Taiwanese aviation authorities took part in a ceremony to celebrate the arrival of the budget airline, which was closely watched by major Taiwanese carriers.

Mr Con Korfiatis, chief operating officer of Jetstar Asia, said at the ceremony that no-frills budget airlines were a 'revolutionary concept in the air-travel business'. Not everyone wanted to have meals and entertainment during short-haul flights, and by cutting these services Jetstar was able to provide affordable airfares. Some passengers concurred.

'Because the price is so low, I am willing to forgo the frills during a short trip,' said office secretary Nancy Chen.

Jetstar made its debut in Taiwan with a promotional offer of NT$1,788 (S$90) for a one-way ticket between Taipei and Singapore during its first week of operation. The price will be raised to between NT$2,350 and NT$7,399 later, depending on the travel season.

The ticket pricing was immediately challenged by Singapore Airlines, which countered with an even lower price of NT$1,688 for round trips between December and March, with Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year holidays being the black-out periods.

Normal prices offered by regular airlines range from NT$7,000 to NT$16,000.

While local carriers admitted the low prices would definitely have an impact on the local aviation industry, they did not think it would be sufficient to threaten them.

'The targeted customers are quite different,' said Mr Roger Han, spokesman for Taiwan's largest carrier, China Airlines. 'Not everyone is willing to take no-frills flights.'

He said that international airfares in Taiwan had already been kept low for a long time due to relatively low labour costs.

Officials of other carriers in Taiwan said they were on the alert but not too worried about the impact of budget airlines.

But the Taiwanese aviation regulator is keeping a watchful eye on Jetstar.

Said Mr Billy Chang, director of Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA): 'The arrival of budget airlines is good for consumers. But with a one-way ticket at just NT$1,788, I wonder these airlines can make any profit even if all the seats are sold out.'

He said the CAA would monitor the airlines' maintenance of its fleet.

Jetstar said it has a clean record as far as flight safety is concerned.

Jetstar Asia is the international budget unit of Qantas Airways. Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings owns 19 per cent of the airline.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Budget Airline Flight Lands in Taipei From Singapore

TAIPEI, Dec 17 Asia Pulse - JetStar Asia, a budget air carrier based in Singapore, began regular flight services between Taipei and Singapore Thursday.

JetStar Asia executives said the air carrier offers ticket prices 20 per cent and 40 per cent cheaper than traditional air carriers. A special price of NT$1,788 (US$55) is being offered during the first week of flight services on the route.

As Singapore is currently on school holidays, the inaugural flight to Taipei was fully booked, while Taipei-Singapore route was 80 per cent full.

The executives said that reservations for the seats are mostly done via the Internet, and extra charges will be added for booking tickets through passenger service centers or specific travel agencies.

The airline, which is scheduled to open a Singapore-Kaohsiung route in the first half of 2005, announced the launch of flight services on the Singapore-Hong Kong route Dec. 13 and will open a Singapore-Pattaya route Dec. 17.

The opening of the no-frills budget air carrier was a new experience to most Taiwan passengers, and has already triggered a looming air-ticket price war between air carriers in Taiwan and Singapore.

Singapore Airlines (SGX:SIA) now offers a promotional round-trip air ticket of NT$1,688 until the end of next March, although the seats available will be limited, but China Airlines will unveil its promotional project in the next few days.

^
Seems like the SIA ticket is more worth it......:lol:

Yeah...it is dissapointing that Jetstar dosent seem to be responding to the price cuts. Perhaps it is because they are still able to fill up their planes during this peak season despite the higher fares?

Jetstar isn't flying to Manila yet, and SIA already cut its fares. Now, if I can only find someone to go with me to singapore to take advantage of the US$199 ticket...

Jetstar isn't flying to Manila yet, and SIA already cut its fares. Now, if I can only find someone to go with me to singapore to take advantage of the US$199 ticket...
US$199 still dosent sound cheap at all. What are the normal airfares? Manila isnt exactly very far away! :D

its pretty cheap for SIA, since the oil thing added surcharges galore over the past few months. Its either that, or my cousin who's a travel agent is trying to cash-cow me :D I could go to singapore for that much or even less on PAL, but as much as I love planes, three hours on economy without a PTV can get pretty boring :)

SIA is just an overprized entity which deserves to be undercut, and for customers to take advantage of them. :D We shall see when Jetstar starts the Manila flights. I am determined to visit the Philippines myself, since I find it off that I have only visited 3 Southeast Asian nations despite all my life living in this region!

JetStar Asia is expanding so rapidly while the other budget carriers are still stuck with so few destinations. Why?

SIA is just an overprized entity which deserves to be undercut, and for customers to take advantage of them. :D We shall see when Jetstar starts the Manila flights. I am determined to visit the Philippines myself, since I find it off that I have only visited 3 Southeast Asian nations despite all my life living in this region!

good for you. Other than my own country, the only glimpse of Southeast Asia that I've had would be transit in Don Muang. :D And I've been to twelve countries, too.

JetStar Asia is expanding so rapidly while the other budget carriers are still stuck with so few destinations. Why?

I'd like to know that, myself. Maybe Jetstar just has more capital to play with. But still, their rapid expansion is pretty risky. Routes cannot be added on a whim. They require a buckload of research and marketing, not to mention red tape for approval and all.

good for you. Other than my own country, the only glimpse of Southeast Asia that I've had would be transit in Don Muang. :D And I've been to twelve countries, too.
12 countries...all outside southeast Asia?

12 countries...all outside southeast Asia?

HK, UK, Japan, USA, UAE, Jordan, Iraq, France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City.

plus the Philippines would be twelve, and that's the only SEA country that I've 'been' to. Well, I don't think that it counts, considering it is my home country. Which is why I'm waiting for ASEAN air liberalization so I can finally see the rest of SEA without worrying about cash too much.

Iraq?

Hahaha...yeah. Iraq, and you have not been to even your neighbouring Southeast Asian countries?

Then again, I have to remind myself that dwellers in Indonesia and the Philippines have the unusual situation of not being able to just pop into their cars and drive into another country....they are island nations, so you guys are quite dependent on aviation (other then via the sea)!

Yeap, especially In the archipelago countries like Indonesia and the philippines, but hey, its a great thing to fly ! :D

cheers

yeah, we have to take planes or boats everywhere. I wouldn't mind, but some of the aircraft here are so scary that whole rows of passengers pray the rosary aloud during some flights.

yeah, we have to take planes or boats everywhere. I wouldn't mind, but some of the aircraft here are so scary that whole rows of passengers pray the rosary aloud during some flights.
That sounds familiar...but I didnt notice it when flying Garuda about 10 years ago! :D

Anyway, Cebu Pacific has stopped flying to Singapore for some time, right?

they discontinued it after only three months because it bled too much. Maybe they'll come back when the A319s are delivered. But the first A319 is coming at around september or so. The A320s are coming this march, too, but they'll most probably serve Incheon and Hong Kong before Changi.

Plus, there's the fact that if CebPac decides to restart flights to Singapore, there's the added burden of competing with Jetstar Asia. CebPac might want to fly from Cebu instead of Manila to Singapore, since it can conveniently undercut Silkair and Qatar on that route. I heard that the fares from SIN-CEB were horrible.

CebPac did buy some 744s from SIA (or got it from SALE, all I know is that its ex-SIA and from Singapore) and its gonna be put to use either competing with PAL in LAX/SFO/HNL or it'll have a domestic configuration and serve MNL-CEB. I can't wait to see those in CebPac's livery :)

Hm...what kind of aircraft did they use to fly that route before? I am kinda wondering how it is possible for them to bleed, unless they are pricing themselves out or providing too much capacity?

The airline has only in recent months started "converting" itself into an LCC, correct?

Looks like Jetstar Asia is exploring the possibility of starting Singapore Kolkata flights in March 2005. Their executives will be in the city for talks as per Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) eastern region chairman Anil Punjabi.

The probable fares of Rs 10,000 will be almost half of the competitors.

The newsreport claims that approval has been granted while the airport manager claims that nothing has been finalized in "writing".

Hope this one materializes.

:cheers:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/981957.cms

Hm...what kind of aircraft did they use to fly that route before? I am kinda wondering how it is possible for them to bleed, unless they are pricing themselves out or providing too much capacity?

The airline has only in recent months started "converting" itself into an LCC, correct?

Yeah. 5J used to fly 757s to SIN, but the loads were less than 50%. It didn't help that their quasi-business class was pretty empty. And I think that SIN was out of the DC9's range, so instead of downgrading their aircraft, they scrapped the route completely.

Looks like Jetstar Asia is exploring the possibility of starting Singapore Kolkata flights in March 2005. Their executives will be in the city for talks as per Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) eastern region chairman Anil Punjabi.

The probable fares of Rs 10,000 will be almost half of the competitors.

The newsreport claims that approval has been granted while the airport manager claims that nothing has been finalized in "writing".

Hope this one materializes.

:cheers:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/981957.cms

Yay! I've always wanted to visit India! I have a feeling I'll be riding Jetstar a lot...

Yay! I've always wanted to visit India! I have a feeling I'll be riding Jetstar a lot...

Hey! That's great...BTW I heard that PAL was thinking of starting flights to India.

Hey! That's great...BTW I heard that PAL was thinking of starting flights to India.

"thinking" being the operative term :) PAL is also "thinking" of acquiring A380s. I'm not trying to diss PAL, but they're already using their fleet like mad. Until they can get out of receivership, I doubt that they can do much. They just opened their Nagoya route, and I seriously wonder how many more routes and frequencies they can add.

Jetstar, however, has a convenient hub in SIN, which is another place I've been meaning to visit. :D

Yeah. 5J used to fly 757s to SIN, but the loads were less than 50%. It didn't help that their quasi-business class was pretty empty. And I think that SIN was out of the DC9's range, so instead of downgrading their aircraft, they scrapped the route completely.
B757? Kinda wondering how frequent the flights are. It should not be difficult filling up the plane so long that they arent over-priced....afterall, I am not expecting lots of business users on that route?

B757? Kinda wondering how frequent the flights are. It should not be difficult filling up the plane so long that they arent over-priced....afterall, I am not expecting lots of business users on that route?

PAL sometimes flies to SIN with 737s, and especially since SQ started its LAX flights, fewer people take PAL from LAX to SIN. Plus, their A330 SIN flight has a tag in CGK to fill the plane. Maybe its just the market. SQ loads are always good, because their MNL flight is a feeder for their international network, but as for leisure travel and the like, its pretty seasonal. David-80 once said that people here would rather fly to HKG, as its nearer and cheaper. Likewise, although we have a lot of nice beaches in Boracay or Palawan, Phuket is way more accessible from SIN. Even if the ticket cost is cheap, Changi isn't the cheapest airport to operate in, especially by Philippine standards :D Maybe the budget terminal will help.

"Plus, their A330 SIN flight has a tag in CGK to fill the plane"

Dont quite understand...what "tag"? :?

Anyway, Changi, despite all the hype around it, is actually the second cheapest airport in East Asia...only KLIA is cheaper! :D Not too sure where the Pinoy airports rank thou...

Looks like Jetstar Asia is exploring the possibility of starting Singapore Kolkata flights in March 2005. Their executives will be in the city for talks as per Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) eastern region chairman Anil Punjabi.

The probable fares of Rs 10,000 will be almost half of the competitors.

The newsreport claims that approval has been granted while the airport manager claims that nothing has been finalized in "writing".

Hope this one materializes.

:cheers:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/981957.cms
Wow the Indian media seems much more capable of finding insider news then the Singapore one or what? I have not yet heard of that over here! :D

The enthusiasm of flying out of the country must be really going sky high in India!

Business Times - 11 Jan 2005

Jetstar, Visa in tie-up to offer cheap seats to cardholders

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Qantas associate Jetstar Asia has tied up with credit card operator Visa to offer more seats at lower prices for cardholders.

Until Feb 2, one-way airfares on Jetstar Asia from Singapore to Taipei, Hong Kong and Pattaya will be $99, $70 and $40 respectively.

During the period, one-way airfares from Hong Kong and Pattaya to Singapore are priced at HK$360 and 1,000 Thai Baht respectively, while the one-way fare to Singapore from Taipei, which is valid until Jan 20, is priced at NT$1,999 each.

Cardholders can make payment using their Visa cards on-line, through the Jetstar Asia call centre, or via select travel agencies.

'Our initial feedback has shown that Visa is an extremely popular card of choice for Jetstar Asia customers,' said Con Korfiatis, Jetstar Asia's COO.

'By partnering with a market leader like Visa, we're able to provide even more seats at better rates to more customers, and that's exactly what we strive to do with every Jetstar Asia flight, every day of the year.'

Jetstar Asia now operates twice daily round trip flights between Singapore and Hong Kong five times a week and daily round trip flights between Singapore and Taipei and Singapore and Pattaya. It will soon start services between Singapore and Shanghai, Jakarta, Surabaya and Manila.

Jetstar is 49 per cent owned by Qantas, while Temasek Holdings has 19 per cent. Its other shareholders are businessmen Tony Chew and FF Wong, who have 22 per cent and 10 per cent stakes respectively.

Jetstar is the third low-cost airline to operate out of Singapore after privately owned Valuair and Singapore Airlines associate, Tiger Airways.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

"Plus, their A330 SIN flight has a tag in CGK to fill the plane"

Dont quite understand...what "tag"? :?

Anyway, Changi, despite all the hype around it, is actually the second cheapest airport in East Asia...only KLIA is cheaper! :D Not too sure where the Pinoy airports rank thou...

Changi is one of the cheapest? And that's including landing fees, terminal fees, baggage handling, and the like? Wow. I didn't know that. I'll research a bit as to what NAIA's fees are.

Oh yeah, four times a week, PR 501 continues on to Jakarta from Singapore. I'm not sure if they have fifth freedom rights, though. But it does help fill the plane.

I do wish that Jetstar will fly to Manila soon. And I most certainly hope that they're just not waiting for naia3 or that weird budget airport in the middle of nowhere to open, because they're gonna be in for a long wait. I wanna experience the asean budget travel experience already! And no, flying to Hong Kong on a rickety cebpac DC-9 does not qualify.

In case I'm in for a long wait, CX and MAS have asia-pass thingamajigs that I could probably use if I get bored.

Yeah it was surprising indeed. The intense competition to encourage airlines to stop over at the various Southeast Asian airports has made many airports slash their charges, plus the sept 11 attacks has also pressured airports worldwide to give their clients (the airlines) a break by charging them less! :D

Hmmm.....not surprised that PR501 goes on to Jakarta. The CGX-SIN route is quite packed, and they are pretty nearby anyway. :D ANyhow, Singapore is more of less open-skies, so I am not surprised that PAL gets the rights to do this, as did quite a number of other airlines. Not sure if Indonesia approves of it thou! :D

Btw, Manila has a new budget terminal?

Yeah it was surprising indeed. The intense competition to encourage airlines to stop over at the various Southeast Asian airports has made many airports slash their charges, plus the sept 11 attacks has also pressured airports worldwide to give their clients (the airlines) a break by charging them less! :D

Hmmm.....not surprised that PR501 goes on to Jakarta. The CGX-SIN route is quite packed, and they are pretty nearby anyway. :D ANyhow, Singapore is more of less open-skies, so I am not surprised that PAL gets the rights to do this, as did quite a number of other airlines. Not sure if Indonesia approves of it thou! :D

Btw, Manila has a new budget terminal?

Not exactly "new" The Diosdado Macapagal International airport in clark field was supposed to be where Manila's mega-airport would be built, but NAIA-3 happened instead. So, instead of building something like KLIA in the place, they have a small terminal (which is stupid, considering that the area has parallel runways, one of which can handle the landing of a NASA space shuttle) Currently, they're expanding the terminal to accomodate more flights, as Asiana flies there regularly, and they're building a railway from Manila to the site. Its already being offered to budget carriers; the government gave out frequencies to that airport like mad :D But that isn't their only choice. Subic airport has some air asia charter flights already.

The only problem with those two airports is that there are hardly any infrastructure currently in place that connects them to Manila, save for an expressway that almost reaches it. The other expressway and railway still has to be finished before it can seriously be an alternative gateway to NAIA.

I'm really interested, though, that although Changi's prices are already cheap as you said, they're still building a budget terminal. What will be the fees for that? Virtually nothing? If it is, then I can see a lot more budget carriers operating in Changi in the near future. I wonder if a "Cheapair" or "Air Scrooge" will ever get launched :D

Jeez...thats a freaking long reply, but a good read! :D

I cant quite remember, but I Jetstar was offered one of the airports you mentioned other then NAIA. I suppose the only delay now are matters concerning that airport. How long more you think it will take before the infrastructure reaches it?

Meanwhile, the minister promised at least a 40% cut for usage of the budget terminal. I still dont think that is cheap enough thou. I demand atl east 50%, because right now, especially with the additional fuel surcharges and secruity costs, they actually cost MORE then my plane ticket combined! :rant: :D

Jeez...thats a freaking long reply, but a good read! :D

I cant quite remember, but I Jetstar was offered one of the airports you mentioned other then NAIA. I suppose the only delay now are matters concerning that airport. How long more you think it will take before the infrastructure reaches it?

Meanwhile, the minister promised at least a 40% cut for usage of the budget terminal. I still dont think that is cheap enough thou. I demand atl east 50%, because right now, especially with the additional fuel surcharges and secruity costs, they actually cost MORE then my plane ticket combined! :rant: :D

uhm, "how long" with regards to any project is generally a useless question in my country, as nobody knows the answer, or at least an accurate answer :D

btw, are changi's terminal fees shouldered by passengers? how much are they now?

Jan 13, 2005
S'pore Aircraft plans to buy up to 50 planes

By Karamjit Kaur
Transport Correspondent

THE rebound in air travel, particularly from low-cost carriers, has spurred Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (Sale) to go shopping for up to 50 new planes.

The company, which is 35.5 per cent owned by Singapore Airlines, has not placed a major aircraft order since 1999, but a surging market has prompted it to do so.

A Sale spokesman said: 'The market has picked up and we have seen a strong increase in demand over the last 12 months. We want to postion ourselves for the coming expansion.'

Demand has been so strong, some airlines say, that they are having trouble finding planes to lease.

It is all a far cry from barely two years ago when Sars, the Iraq war and terrorism threats seemed to ground the airline industry.

DBS Vickers' aviation analyst, Mr Chris Sanda, said: 'We're seeing growth in most countries in Asia. In Singapore, we've had three budget airlines formed in less than a year. Malaysia's budget airline market is expanding and we can also expect growth in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia.'

With that sort of market promise, the main question for Sale, which has a fleet of 60 aircraft, is what plane to get and how many.

Sources said the company is looking to buy between 30 and 50 new aircraft, and a Sale spokesman confirmed that it is already evaluating proposals from Airbus, Boeing and the Brazilian Embraer for single-aisle planes with more than 100 seats.

While single-aisle jets are popular with budget carriers such as Valuair and AirAsia, Sale is not just catering to them, he said.

'No doubt, an important factor in the decision to place an order is the development of the low-cost airline market, which has given the leasing industry a great boost. But there is also demand from the bigger airlines,' he said.

In 1999, Sale ordered 20 single-aisle Airbus jets, later adding nine more to the list. Fifteen have been delivered, with the rest due before May next year.

They cannot come too soon, if comments from an official from a Singapore-based budget airline is anything to go by. 'Everyone wants to add new routes and break into new markets. Competition is stiff, not just in the aircraft market, but also in getting pilots to fly the planes.'

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Sigh...maybe they need some prodding. :D

As for the airport tax...its really irritating...trying to find a breakdown of the conconction of charged, but think the departure tax from Singapore is S$15?

Sigh...maybe they need some prodding. :D

As for the airport tax...its really irritating...trying to find a breakdown of the conconction of charged, but think the departure tax from Singapore is S$15?

eh? airport tax here is around the same! To think that they raised it by 50% or so before some court ordered the fees to go back down. And the budget terminal is going to cut that cost?

Hmm...but you dont have the extra security charges and the fuel surcharge slapped on by airlines too? The total adds up to about S$100! Sickening goons!

Business Times - 28 Jan 2005

Jetstar Asia plans flights to Indonesia in Feb

(SINGAPORE) Jetstar Asia, the international budget carrier of Qantas Airways, said it plans to fly to Jakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia next month as it expands its network to meet the rising travel demand in Asia.

Con Korfiatis, Jetstar Asia's chief operating officer, said the airline is also interested to fly to Malaysia and expects to serve Manila and Shanghai soon after starting its Indonesian flights.

'I expect our services to Indonesia to be the next cap off the rank and we hope to have that up and running next month,' Mr Korfiatis said yesterday in an interview at a low-cost airline conference here.

Budget carriers like Jetstar Asia, Singapore Airlines' Tiger Airways and Valuair are expanding fleets and routes in South-east Asia, a region with a combined population of 500 million people. Passenger traffic in the region is forecast to grow an average 6.1 per cent each year until 2023, compared with a global average of 5.2 per cent, according to Boeing Co.

Jetstar Asia, which started offering flights to Hong Kong, Taipei and Pattaya in December last year, plans to add more services to Indonesia and the Philippines and expand its network to Vietnam and other Indochina countries, Mr Korfiatis said. 'We just see enormous growth opportunities that are out there,' he said. 'The only limiting factor is going to be the speed of deregulation in the market.'

The airline, which expects to make a profit in one to two years, will soon take delivery of its fourth leased Airbus SAS A320s. It will have another four by year-end. - Bloomberg

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Maybe this is why CAAS is delaying that Singapore-Jakarta effort by their best friend! :D

LOL, i think so, tiger airways is also eyeing Jakarta though.


cheers

03 February 2005

Budget carrier JetStar Asia to fly to new Asian destinations
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia

JetStar Asia is set to become the first Singapore-based budget carrier to fly to India.

Its COO Con Korfiatis revealed on Thursday that the carrier has received air rights to Kolkatta.

While both JetStar and Tiger Airways have also received the air rights to head to Vietnam, another hot and new destination.

However there is still some way to go before take-off.

It has been a race in the air among the budget carriers for destinations.

For passengers, the large and somewhat under-serviced China and India markets is what they've been waiting to get budget fares for.

Indochina is another hot market.

In China, JetStar is considering cities like Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen and Shenzhen in the south for their second China destination.

It already has rights for Shanghai.

And once more air rights open up, the budget carriers are also looking to fly to cities like places like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.

As for the competition, Tiger has said it is not ruling out India and China while Valuair has been eyeing Chengdu and Xiamen.

JetStar has received the air rights to fly to Hanoi while Tiger says it has the rights to fly to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

But getting air rights in Singapore is just half of the picture.

Airlines then have to get operational clearances from the countries they are flying to.

And, depending on the destinations, this can be a quick case of just getting paper work approved or a more arduous and longer process involving test flights and visits by aviation officials.

Only then can flights start.

But in the fiercely competitive budget carrier market, JetStar Asia is also trying a new tack to get the attention of passengers.

It is starting a new reality TV series on MediaCorp's Channel 8 that'll bring audiences a behind-the-scenes peek of how an airline runs.

Mr Con Korfiatis said: "People are fascinated with travel. Everyone wants to travel. This is really to get an insight on the behind the scenes look at how an airline works - how we recruit cabin crew, how they feel when they wear their uniform for the first time and their first flight."

The 9 half-hour episodes in Mandarin, hosted by MediaCorp artistes Jeff Wang and Mary Bukoh, will run weekly from 24 February.

But one thing remains - the special promotions used by all budget carriers.

In Jetstar Asia's case, 100,000 hong baos will be given out with Weekend Today and along Orchard Road this weekend - 88 of them will contain free return air tickets to Hong Kong or Taipei. - CNA

Copyright © 2005 MCN International Pte Ltd

By now it is almost pointless to speculate. I would rather wait for them to actually start flying before commenting sometimes! :D

Business Times - 25 Feb 2005

Jetstar Asia appoints chief exec

JETSTAR Asia, the no-frills airline part-owned by Qantas, announced on Friday the appointment of Ken Ryan as chief executive of the Singapore-based carrier.

In an e-mailed statement, airline chairman Geoff Dixon said Mr Ryan has extensive experience in aviation, including in the Asian market.

'Ken has been with Qantas for more than 10 years and has held a number of senior executive roles, including regional general manager for Qantas and British Airways for South East Asia, based in Singapore,' Mr Dixon said.

He also said Con Korfiatis, chief operating officer of Jetstar Asia, will return to Qantas.

The airline had recently revealed that it has not been doing as well as first hoped. It said terrorism fears, the tsunami in December and problems over new landing rights have contributed to the company's commercial woes.

'Delays in getting flying permits to certain parts of Asia are likely to cause Jetstar Asia utilisation problems with its fleet of four Airbus 320s,' Mr Dixon had said.

Qantas owns 49 per cent of Jetstar Asia while another 19 per cent is held by the Singapore Government arm Temasek Holdings and the rest by other Singapore investors.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 02 Mar 2005

Jetstar Asia drops Pattaya service, flies to Bangkok instead

SINGAPORE - Singapore-based Jetstar Asia will begin plying the increasingly busy Bangkok route from March 23 after cancelling its Pattaya service due to poor demand, the Qantas-backed budget carrier said on Wednesday.

To promote the launch of the Bangkok service, Jetstar Asia will give away 1,000 tickets for a return trip between the two cities for bookings made on its website between March 3 and 16.

During the promotional period, tickets for a one-way trip to Bangkok will start from S$28 (US$17).

'Bangkok remains one of the top business and tourist destinations in the region and is an incredibly popular destination with Singaporeans,' Jetstar Asia's head of marketing Dorit Grueber said in a statement.

However, opening the Bangkok route led to the termination of the service to the beach resort of Pattaya, a popular coastal tourist area with a reputation for a seedy nightlife.

Jetstar Asia last week suspended its Pattaya service, citing slow sales, but did not rule out flying there again in the future if market conditions improved.

'With a limited number of aircraft available to us, we made the tough decision to redirect our assets towards serving a destination that continues to see growth in demand,' Jetstar Asia's vice-president of operations, Greg Thompson, said.

Jetstar Asia, in which Australian national carrier Qantas has a 49 percent stake, began commercial flights in December with services to Pattaya, Hong Kong and the Taiwan capital of Taipei.

The introduction of budget airlines to the Bangkok-Singapore route over the past year, with the Thai subsidiary of Malaysia's AirAsia and Singapore-based Valuair joining the fray, has dramatically cut airfares between the cities.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

By now it is almost pointless to speculate. I would rather wait for them to actually start flying before commenting sometimes! :D

yeah... I just heard that they aren't going to be flying to Manila anytime soon, because PAL is blocking the entry. How sad...

Business Times - 03 Mar 2005

Travel free on Jetstar inaugural flight to Bangkok

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Free flights to Bangkok!

That is what Qantas associate, Jetstar Asia, is offering on its coming twice daily inaugural Singapore-Bangkok flights.

To celebrate the launch of the service on March 23, the Qantas subsidiary is offering 1,000 tickets free on a first-come-first-served basis, on top of introductory fares starting from $28 each way. These tickets can be booked between March 3 and 16, for travel through May 27.

The Bangkok services replace Jetstar's daily service to Pattaya, which the airline had dropped due to poor loads.

It expects to do better on the Singapore-Bangkok route.

Bangkok remains one of the top business and tourist destinations in the region, and is an incredibly popular destination with Singaporeans, said Jetstar Asia's head of marketing, Dorit Grueber.

'From weekend treats to week-long shopping trips, the demand for travel to the Thai capital has continued to rise throughout the past several years and we are confident of being able to help even more people in Singapore experience the delights, adventures and wonderful cultural offerings that Bangkok provides in such abundance,' she said.

But the two-hour route is also one of the most crowded in Asia, with 13 airlines providing 90,000 seats a week via a total of 393 weekly flights. Besides the established players like Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, it is also served by low cost competitors Tiger Airways (28 flights a day), Valuair (14 flights a week), and Thai Air Asia (24 flights a week). Then there are 5th freedom operators like Cathay Pacific and Finnair.

Jetstar last week announced that it had appointed Qantas veteran Ken Ryan as its chief executive, to take over from outgoing chief operating officer Con Korfiatis.

Jetstar Asia is a partnership between Qantas (49 per cent), businessmen Tony Chew (22 per cent), FF Wong (10 per cent), and Temasek Holdings (19 per cent). Besides Bangkok, it also flies to Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In a separate announcement, Jetstar's rival Tiger Airways said it would start flights to Macau on March 25, Ho Chi Minh from April 1 and Hanoi from April 7.

The Singapore Airlines budget associate will operate five flights a week to Macau, four flights a week to Ho Chi Minh and three flights a week to Hanoi. It is also starting a second daily evening flight to Phuket, raising to 10 the number of weekly flights to the Thai resort.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

March 4, 2005
Missing pilot grounds flight

By Vivi Zainol

PASSENGERS on a Jetstar Asia flight to Singapore were delayed for about four hours at Hong Kong International Airport last night, when the pilot did not turn up.

The pilot for the 7.10pm flight, 3K006, did not report for duty, and the flight was rescheduled three times, until a replacement pilot arrived at 11.15pm.

Exhibition executive Christine Ching, 25, said there were no announcements about the delay, though airline staff said the captain had flown to Australia on sudden compassionate leave.

Some of the 30 to 40 frustrated passengers decided to postpone their flights to the next day.

Singapore-based Jetstar Asia was the third discount carrier to take off from Changi Airport when it began its operations in December.

It offers flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taipei.

Mr Simon Nowell, the handling agent for Jetstar in Hong Kong, told The Straits Times he was not in a position to answer queries. The Jetstar office in Singapore could not be contacted.

Business consultant Alvin Ang, 35, eventually boarded the plane, but the experience has turned him off budget airlines.

'I'm willing to pay more to avoid such an experience,' he said.
Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Is it me or anyone else that also think jetstarasia wont last long....

cheers

Jetstar at the T3 site (Picture taken from T1 viewing mall, 3/3/05):

http://img65.exs.cx/img65/1889/pic0039414ht.jpg

oh well thats bad publicity for the carrier -_-

oh well thats bad publicity for the carrier -_-

I hope such problems won't occurs in the future.....:yes:

Anyway, is flight delays common for budget flights?? :?

I hope such problems won't occurs in the future.....:yes:

Anyway, is flight delays common for budget flights?? :?

i dont think so

in fact the whole idea for a budget airline is to NOT have any delays. They will for instance take off without you if you are late, while normal carriers might wait longer.

hope this is a one-off :yes:

i dont think so

in fact the whole idea for a budget airline is to NOT have any delays. They will for instance take off without you if you are late, while normal carriers might wait longer.

hope this is a one-off :yes:

How's your experience with Tiger??

yeah... I just heard that they aren't going to be flying to Manila anytime soon, because PAL is blocking the entry. How sad...
Its confirmed? PAL will always protest anyway, so it all depends on the authorities now! :D

Oh btw, you guys heard of how Tiger Airlines has apparantly started selling tickets to Clark now? I suppose there has been some progress indeed? Will Jetstar get its wish next?

Oh btw, you guys heard of how Tiger Airlines has apparantly started selling tickets to Clark now? I suppose there has been some progress indeed? Will Jetstar get its wish next?

yeah... the Philippine government virtually opened up clark to be whored out :D Tiger is exempt from paying landing fees and taxes in clark for a full six months, enough time to grow the route properly.

I'm not getting any news from jetstar, though. NAIA is pretty crowded, and I have a feeling that they're just going to wait for the new terminal to open, so they won't have to go through the hassle of relocating and fighting other airlines for space in the old NAIA.

17 March 2005

Qantas' Jetstar Asia may sub-lease aircraft as growth strategy stalls

SYDNEY : Qantas Airways' move into the burgeoning Asian budget airline market has failed to gain traction, with its 49 percent-owned Jetstar Asia conceding it may have to lease out part of its aircraft fleet.

Qantas spokesman Michael Sharp told Thursday's Sydney Morning Herald the Singapore-based airline, launched just three months ago, had been frustrated in its attempts to gain traffic rights in the key Indonesian and Chinese markets.

As a result, Jetstar, which so far has cost Qantas 23.5 million dollars (18.6 million US), is facing a challenge finding new destinations for its existing four Airbus A320s and will "look to lease out some of the aircraft it ordered" if it does not gain additional traffic rights this year, Sharp said.

Jetstar is scheduled to take delivery of another four A320s before November and the newspaper said it is understood the airline already has advertised within the industry to lease out the four aircraft.

In addition to Taipei and Hong Kong, Jetstar Asia recently started services to Bangkok and is on the verge of gaining rights into the Philippines using its existing four aircraft.

The airline is set to take delivery of its fifth leased A320 by May but has asked the aircraft's owner -- International Lease Finance Corp in Los Angeles -- to find another taker for the jet, the newspaper said.

The four remaining jets have been leased from ILFC for five years and Jetstar may have to sub-lease them at a significant loss.

The company had no further comment on the report.

Qantas' partners in Jetstar are Singapore's Temasek, which owns 19 percent, and Singaporean businessmen Tony Chew and FF Wong, who own the remainder.- AFP

Copyright © 2005 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 25 Mar 2005

Jetstar scrambles for new routes to Philippines, India

Move partly due to Jakarta's freezing of new traffic rights to foreign LCCs

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Thwarted in its efforts to quickly clinch routes into major markets such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam, Jetstar Asia is moving to secure new routes into other markets, including the Philippines and India.

The scramble for new routes has taken on greater urgency for the Qantas' associate in the wake of the Indonesia's declaration this week that - in an effort to protect its domestic players, namely Garuda and Merpati - the country would not grant any new traffic rights to foreign low-cost carriers (LCCs).

The last three months have not gone exactly as planned for Jetstar.

It has been unable to start flights to Surabaya and Jakarta in Indonesia, and Shanghai in China. It also lost out Ho Chi Minh City to rival Tiger Airways, and was forced to cancel its loss-making daily Pattaya flights.

Meanwhile, the LCC is poised to take delivery of more planes this year.

The Singapore-based airline had originally planned to have a fleet of eight Airbus 320 aircraft by the end of 2006, based on its forecast ability to fly to many more destinations than it does now.

Instead, it may have to ask the lessor of the planes, International Lease Finance Corp in Los Angeles, to find other takers for the jets.

The LCC's new chief executive officer, Ken Ryan, said in statement last week that the problem was due to Singapore's inability 'to ensure that traffic rights awarded to Jetstar Asia are actually able to be operated to countries such as China and Indonesia'.

'Jetstar Asia has therefore taken action to place the aircraft that would have operated these services elsewhere until such time as the issues are resolved or additional traffic rights become available.'

Meanwhile, it is flying its four planes to Bangkok (twice daily), Taipei (once a day) and Hong Kong (twice daily).

And come next month, Jetstar will start services to Manila.

'We have also just received approval to fly a daily service to Manila and we will commence these services shortly,' Mr Ryan said. 'Jetstar Asia is currently carrying excellent loads and is delighted with the forward bookings on all routes. The airline will continue to grow and will announce some exciting new destinations, in addition to Manila, in the near future.'

The other new destinations could include various points in Thailand and India, including Kolkata. The airline has previously said it was also eyeing a secondary airport near Mumbai, India.

Meanwhile, Jetstar officials strongly denied Australian media reports that it has been unable to secure traffic rights into Shanghai and other key destinations in the country because of the Chinese government's displeasure over its decision to begin services to Taipei before finalising negotiations for landing rights with Beijing.

'They want us to use secondary airports,' a Jetstar official told BT. 'But we have to see whether it makes economic sense to fly to some of these places.'

Besides Qantas, which has a 49 per cent stake, the other shareholders of Jetstar are Temasek Holdings, with 19 per cent, and Singaporean businessmen Tony Chew and FF Wong.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hmm...very interesting...especially that comment on China's displeasure. :D I didnt expect them to be so xiaoqi! :D

Jakarta slams door on Jetstar
By Scott Rochfort and wires
March 26, 2005

Qantas's struggling Jetstar Asia operation suffered another body blow this week after the Indonesian Government said it would block foreign low-cost airlines from flying on key routes into the country.

Just one week after Jetstar Asia said it would have to lease out half of its fleet of eight Airbus A320s after failing to gain access into several key markets, Indonesia said it would permanently block low-cost carriers from flying into Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya and Bali.

"This [decision] to limit foreign low-cost carriers for potential route flights had to be taken because the national carriers are unable to compete with them," Indonesia's Transportation Minister, Hatta Rajasa, told the state-run Antara news agency.

The move comes just one week after the Indonesian Government sacked the entire board of its national carrier, Garuda.

Aside from protecting Garuda, the move is seen as retaliation against the Singapore Government for, in January, barring the 49 per cent AirAsia-owned Indonesia carrier AWAIR from flying into Changi.

"If Singapore can impose such an extra-tight policy why can't Indonesia do the same?" Mr Hatta asked.

Singapore Airlines' 49 per cent-owned Tiger Airways is also set to suffer from the decision.

But Jetstar Asia's problems do not only lie in being barred access into Indonesia and China.

After just two months the airline canned its services to Pattaya, Thailand, and it is unlikely its new double daily service to Bangkok, which started on Wednesday, is profitable.

The airline gave away the first 1000 seats on the Bangkok services for free and has introductory one-way fares of $S28 ($22).

Jetstar Asia chief executive Ken Ryan was unavailable for comment. Last week he said the airline was "currently carrying excellent loads and is delighted with the forward bookings on all routes".

Qantas has already started highlighting Jetstar Asia's problems in gaining access into key Asian market in its campaign to persuade the Australian Government not to allow Singapore Airlines on its lucrative Sydney-Los Angeles route.

This is despite Jetstar Asia's problems in gaining access not lying with the Singapore Government but with other Asian countries.

"It just highlights it's not a level playing field and Australia really does have one of the most liberal aviation environments in the world," Qantas's head of public affairs, Michael Sharp, said.

He said Qantas had to compete with about 40 international airlines that fly into Australia.

In comparison, about 80 international airlines fly into Singapore.

Meanwhile, Qantas's domestic low-cost operation, Jetstar, has ruled out picking up its Singapore sister airline's surplus A320s.

Despite speculation in the past the two airlines could co-operate on switching aircraft as needed, Jetstar chief executive Alan Joyce said "we certainly think we have enough".

Jetstar's fleet of A320s grew to eight last week, after it took delivery of two aircraft on loan to Jetstar Asia.

Jetstar Asia adds Manila route


Jetstar Asia says it it will start flying to Manila from next month, becoming the second Singapore-based budget carrier to offer flights to the Philippines.

The Qantas-backed carrier will fly daily to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, with the inaugural service scheduled for April 27.

To mark the launch of the route, the carrier is offering a promotional fares.

Normal fares for a one-way ticket would start from $US129 once the promotion period ends.

Tiger Airways, another Singapore-based budget carrier, said this month it would start flying from April 5 to Clark Field.

The former US air force base about 80 kilometres north of Manila that has been converted into a commercial airport.

Jetstar Asia, in which Qantas has a 49 per cent stake, began commercial flights in December.

It currently flies to Taipei, Hong Kong and Bangkok from the city-state.

- AFP

Interesting. It is flying to a different airport...I tot they wont let these budget airlines fly to Ninoy Aquino?

Well, there's no Jakarta-style ban on budget airlines in NAIA :D I guess Jetstar just decided to go through the horrible and expensive process to get NAIA rights, instead of operating on the temporary permits that tiger and AirAsia have in Clark (they're going through the process too, but its less stressful in Clark, and they've been given permission to operate immediately to clark while they finalize the niceties). Jetstar's advantage is that they took the last available slots to NAIA under the SG-RP air rights agreement on the Singapore side. Of course, once ASEAN open skies happens, that could go out the window :D

EDIT: it seems that Jetstar is gloating. See what I got from their website. Its kinda funny, really: "Jetstar Asia confirmed today that it would begin services to Manila, Philippines next month with the introduction of daily flights between Singapore's Changi Airport and Manila's true commercial passenger hub, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)."

http://www.jetstarasia.com/aboutUs/news/#SinMar27

:laugh:

Muahahaa!!! I knew that will happen!! To be honest, I would very well choose Jetstar over the others just because of its choice of airport!

Business Times - 01 Apr 2005

Jetstar Asia to offer in-flight video on demand from June

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Budget carrier Jetstar Asia is introducing portable video-on-demand services on its flights.

The Qantas associate has signed a memorandum of understanding with Wencor/APS, a US-based airline service provider, to provide a portable in-flight entertainment device called the digEplayer.

The service will be on all Jetstar flights to Hong Kong, Taipei and Manila from June this year.

Passengers can rent the battery-operated tray-top entertainment consoles for $10 and choose from 10 movies, eight sitcoms, 100 audio tracks and music videos.

Jetstar Asia chief executive Ken Ryan said the digEplayer had been successfully introduced in a number of airlines, and added that the units would become a new revenue source for Jetstar Asia as the low-fare carrier progressively makes new enhancements to its overall service and product offering.

'We see the introduction of digEplayer as a substantial and exciting boost to our in-flight product,' he said, adding that a complimentary disposable head set will be provided with each rented set. 'The digEplayer can be used in-flight much like a laptop computer. Our cabin crew will rent out the units after take-off and (they) will be collected back from passengers prior to a flight's arrival.'

The digEplayer contents will be updated every 60 days.

Jetstar Asia is 49 per cent owned by Qantas, and 19 per cent held by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Businessmen Tony Chew, with 22 per cent, and FF Wong, with 10 per cent, are also major shareholders.

The airline currently flies to multiple destinations within five hours of Singapore including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Philippines.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

I might be flying Jetstar to Taipei in May. :D Even if they give me this inflight thing, I am quite sure I wont bother. ;)

I might be flying Jetstar to Taipei in May. :D Even if they give me this inflight thing, I am quite sure I wont bother. ;)

hey..you going to Taipei?..cool:)

take alot of pics!:)

I hope I go....looking for a cheap deal now. :D

April 5, 2005

When ad ideas fly

LOW-COST carriers may dangle super-cheap fares, but their advertisements are rarely entertaining or creative.

But it is a safe bet to say that Jetstar Asia's recent ads have brought a smile to many people.

The concept is simple. In one ad, for example, the copy says: Fly Jetstar Asia to Bangkok for only $28 or get half a haircut.

An accompanying small picture shows a woman with just that haircut.

Other ads mention that the amounts you pay to Taipei and Hong Kong can net you half a pair of jeans and a can of abalone respectively.

How did such inspiration come about?

This was a result of the advertising agency's creative director 'buying some fish for dinner from the supermarket and realising that for the same price, he could have gone to Hong Kong', says Mr Ken Ryan, chief executive of Jetstar Asia.

Will there be a sequel to this ad campaign? Maybe travellers can suggest what they themselves could have bought for the price of the air ticket?

All Mr Ryan will say for now is that Jetstar Asia, which recently won landing rights in Manila, is open to fresh ideas.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Erm...isnt these "Cheapo" airlines usually the ones coming up with the strangest ads in the first place, often full of inflammatory remarks targeted at rivals? :D

Business Times - 12 Apr 2005

We will survive, says Jetstar's new chief

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Budget airline Jetstar Asia says rumours of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Chief executive Ken Ryan told BT that the carrier is here to stay - and will match the competition blow for blow, dollar for dollar. 'Yes, the competition is intense, the environment is difficult. But we will survive.'

Mr Ryan, who took the helm of the Qantas associate just a few weeks ago, was responding to speculation that it could be in trouble after failing to get on to key routes in China, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Speculation intensified after Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg said last month that things at Jetstar weren't going as well as had been hoped.

Then came reports that Jetstar would not take delivery of four new leased planes.

'What Peter said was true, and we can't walk away from that,' said Mr Ryan, who was regional general manager for South-east Asia for Qantas-British Airways about four years ago. 'We had expected to start operations to destinations in China and Indonesia.'

China refused to allow Jetstar to fly to Shanghai as planned, despite the airline having obtained air-traffic rights from the Singapore side. Then two weeks ago, Indonesia slammed the door on foreign budget airlines to protect its ailing national carrier Garuda. And Jetstar had to give up its Singapore-Pattaya run after loads dipped following the tsunami disaster.

Mr Ryan confirmed that Jetstar has asked lessor ILFC to place out three Airbus 320 aircraft the carrier was due to receive next month, and said it could place out a fourth A320 that is due to arrive several months later.

He also revealed that Jetstar has seconded many of its 40 pilots to Deccan Airlines in India for the time being.

'The eight-aircraft fleet we had planned was based on our ability to fly to Indonesia and China,' Mr Ryan said. 'The (Singapore) government has been unable to ensure we are able to use the rights allocated to us.

'China has said no to LCCs (low-cost carriers) flying into Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. And Indonesia has said no to all foreign LCCs. We met all the requirements, but the policy shuts the door on us. There is nothing more we can do. It's a government-to-government issue.'

Mr Ryan said that the decision to place out aircraft makes sound business sense. 'The fact that we are letting them go doesn't contradict our growth plans,' he said. 'It is prudent practice to manage your assets. I wouldn't read too much into this.'

Jetstar's loads on existing routes remain high. 'We have been enjoying system-wide loads of over 70 per cent and forward bookings are extremely strong,' Mr Ryan said.

Jetstar now operates twice-daily flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok, and daily flights to Taipei. It will start daily flights to Manila on April 24, followed by thrice-weekly flights to Kolkata next month.

Mr Ryan said that despite the challenges, Jetstar could be profitable next year. 'We are hoping to get close to profitability by 2006,' he said. 'But it is a difficult environment where the competition is intense, oil price is rising and available rights cannot be operated.'

Jetstar has no immediate plan to impose fuel surcharges but is monitoring the situation, he said. He would not comment on the airline's fuel bill, but it is generally known that fuel makes up about a third of the expenses of Asian LCCs.

Despite recent setbacks, Jetstar is continuing to search for new routes, which Mr Ryan hinted could include Phuket and Perth.

And he couldn't resist taking a small swipe at rival Tiger Airlines and its biggest shareholder Singapore Airlines, when asked why Jetstar didn't get the rights for the lucrative Singapore-Ho Chi Minh City route.

'That's a very competitive route - between Tiger and SIA,' he joked. 'But it's a bit like competing against yourself, isn't it?'

Jetstar had bid for the route but lost out to Tiger and was instead granted the right to fly the less attractive Hanoi route.

That aside, Mr Ryan remains upbeat about Jetstar's ability to survive and handle the competition. 'Lay to rest some of the myths (about our impending demise),' he said. 'We are here to stay.'

Jetstar is 49 per cent owned by Qantas and 19 per cent by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Businessmen Tony Chew, with 22 per cent, and FF Wong, with 10 per cent, are also major shareholders.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 27 Apr 2005

Jetstar Asia 3rd budget carrier to fly to Philippines

(MANILA) Jetstar Asia Airways, the low-budget carrier operated by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd, will become the third discount airline to operate in the Philippines, servicing the Manila-Singapore route, the company said yesterday.

Jetstar Asia chief executive Ken Ryan said he expects passenger volume to gain 20 per cent from its operations in the Philippines. Apart from its once-daily Manila flights, Jetstar Asia also connects Singapore with twice-daily flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok and once-a-day flights to Taipei.

'All indications show that the Manila route will be very strong,' Mr Ryan told reporters on the eve of the inaugural flight on an Airbus A320, one of the airline's four aircraft.

Mr Ryan said the company is currently flying at more than 70 per cent passenger capacity during peak season and at around 60 per cent during off-peak periods.

Jetstar Asia is the first low-cost airline that has received the right to fly to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The two other budget carriers, Tiger Airways - an offshoot of Singapore Airlines - and Malaysia's AirAsia use Clark airport, north of Manila.

Jetstar Asia, which started operating in December, is 49 per cent owned by Qantas, 22 per cent by Singaporean businessman Tony Chew, 19 per cent by Temasek Holdings and 10 per cent by another Singaporean businessman F F Wong. - AP

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 12 Apr 2005

We will survive, says Jetstar's new chief

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) Budget airline Jetstar Asia says rumours of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Chief executive Ken Ryan told BT that the carrier is here to stay - and will match the competition blow for blow, dollar for dollar. 'Yes, the competition is intense, the environment is difficult. But we will survive.'

Mr Ryan, who took the helm of the Qantas associate just a few weeks ago, was responding to speculation that it could be in trouble after failing to get on to key routes in China, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Speculation intensified after Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg said last month that things at Jetstar weren't going as well as had been hoped.

Then came reports that Jetstar would not take delivery of four new leased planes.

'What Peter said was true, and we can't walk away from that,' said Mr Ryan, who was regional general manager for South-east Asia for Qantas-British Airways about four years ago. 'We had expected to start operations to destinations in China and Indonesia.'

China refused to allow Jetstar to fly to Shanghai as planned, despite the airline having obtained air-traffic rights from the Singapore side. Then two weeks ago, Indonesia slammed the door on foreign budget airlines to protect its ailing national carrier Garuda. And Jetstar had to give up its Singapore-Pattaya run after loads dipped following the tsunami disaster.

Mr Ryan confirmed that Jetstar has asked lessor ILFC to place out three Airbus 320 aircraft the carrier was due to receive next month, and said it could place out a fourth A320 that is due to arrive several months later.

He also revealed that Jetstar has seconded many of its 40 pilots to Deccan Airlines in India for the time being.

'The eight-aircraft fleet we had planned was based on our ability to fly to Indonesia and China,' Mr Ryan said. 'The (Singapore) government has been unable to ensure we are able to use the rights allocated to us.

'China has said no to LCCs (low-cost carriers) flying into Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. And Indonesia has said no to all foreign LCCs. We met all the requirements, but the policy shuts the door on us. There is nothing more we can do. It's a government-to-government issue.'

Mr Ryan said that the decision to place out aircraft makes sound business sense. 'The fact that we are letting them go doesn't contradict our growth plans,' he said. 'It is prudent practice to manage your assets. I wouldn't read too much into this.'

Jetstar's loads on existing routes remain high. 'We have been enjoying system-wide loads of over 70 per cent and forward bookings are extremely strong,' Mr Ryan said.

Jetstar now operates twice-daily flights to Hong Kong and Bangkok, and daily flights to Taipei. It will start daily flights to Manila on April 24, followed by thrice-weekly flights to Kolkata next month.

Mr Ryan said that despite the challenges, Jetstar could be profitable next year. 'We are hoping to get close to profitability by 2006,' he said. 'But it is a difficult environment where the competition is intense, oil price is rising and available rights cannot be operated.'

Jetstar has no immediate plan to impose fuel surcharges but is monitoring the situation, he said. He would not comment on the airline's fuel bill, but it is generally known that fuel makes up about a third of the expenses of Asian LCCs.

Despite recent setbacks, Jetstar is continuing to search for new routes, which Mr Ryan hinted could include Phuket and Perth.

And he couldn't resist taking a small swipe at rival Tiger Airlines and its biggest shareholder Singapore Airlines, when asked why Jetstar didn't get the rights for the lucrative Singapore-Ho Chi Minh City route.

'That's a very competitive route - between Tiger and SIA,' he joked. 'But it's a bit like competing against yourself, isn't it?'

Jetstar had bid for the route but lost out to Tiger and was instead granted the right to fly the less attractive Hanoi route.

That aside, Mr Ryan remains upbeat about Jetstar's ability to survive and handle the competition. 'Lay to rest some of the myths (about our impending demise),' he said. 'We are here to stay.'

Jetstar is 49 per cent owned by Qantas and 19 per cent by Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Businessmen Tony Chew, with 22 per cent, and FF Wong, with 10 per cent, are also major shareholders.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.
Conflicting comments all the time. Tomorrow they will say they closing down probably. :D

Conflicting comments all the time. Tomorrow they will say they closing down probably. :D

So far it did not happen........but it's route expansion seems slower than Tiger and Valuair.....:yes:

So far it did not happen........but it's route expansion seems slower than Tiger and Valuair.....:yes:
At first it seems to start with a bang, than it seems to splutter to a stop. Tiger seems to be rolling in mud at first, before finally beginning to walk a little faster. Valuair? Neither here nor there. :D

Btw, anyone bothered to watch that Jetstar show?

This story was printed from TODAYonline

'Forced' to slash airfares

Full-service airlines have to do so because of budget carriers: Jetstar Asia CEO

Thursday • May 19, 2005

Ansley Ng
ansley@newstoday.com.sg

FULL-service airlines have slashed their fares by more than five times in some promotions of late. But don't be fooled by these attractive prices, Jetstar Asia's chief executive officer Ken Ryan warned travellers in an interview with Today.

These airfares would not be there if there were no budget airlines in the market, he said pointedly.

"(Full service airlines) have never been providers of low fares … They are forced to; they don't do it by choice. All you have to do is look at the routes that we fly on and see what the full service fares are and compare that to routes that low-cost carriers don't fly. And you see that the fares are double or triple," he said.

In March, Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced promotional $98 airfares to several locations — including Hanoi, Hong Kong and Perth — in a move that many saw as a confrontation with budget airlines. A normal SIA return air ticket to any of the above destinations could easily cost more than $500.

While he acknowledged that many travellers are loyal only to low fares, he warned: "The travelling public should be under no misapprehension and have to be careful that full-service airline activities do not make life so untenable for the new entrants that they are forced off the routes. And the fares go back to being where they were before."

The former regional general manager for Qantas in Victoria and Tasmania in Australia also countered the perception that low-cost carriers provide "cheap and nasty" low quality product.

"Carriers such as ourselves are still new so we are still building loyalty and the travelling public are still gaining trust," he said.

Qantas holds a 49-per-cent stake in Jetstar Asia. The other stakeholders are Temasek Holdings, which owns 19 per cent, and Singapore businessmen Tony Chew and Wong Fong Hui — who hold a combined stake of 32 per cent.

Just shortly after he took over in March, Mr Ryan had to refute speculation that the budget carrier was in trouble. Then, the airline had dropped the Singapore to Pattaya route, and also failed to get landing rights in China and Indonesia.

Both countries rejected Jetstar Asia's application to fly to several key cities despite it having approval from Singapore aviation authorities.

"We were granted available rights by the Singapore Government to fly to certain cities in China and Indonesia, and we are unable to fly them. The Singapore Government has been unable to ensure that we can operate those services," said Mr Ryan. "It is really an issue that needs to be resolved government-to-government … The traffic rights were available and through no fault of our own we can't fly them."

But he is satisfied with how the airline is faring on its current routes.

Jetstar Asia, which began flying out of Singapore six months ago, flies twice daily from Singapore to Hong Kong and Bangkok, and once daily to Taipei and Manila. On average, 65 per cent of the seats are taken up.

When asked if a consolidation was possible in the face of increasingly stiff competition, Mr Ryan firmly rejected the idea.

"We are not looking at being consolidated with another airline. Our whole intent is that we survive in our own right," he said.

Mr Ryan added: "It's a period of intense competition where it's quite common knowledge that none of the new carriers are profitable. Whether there are too many (budget airlines) or not, the market will decide. Our task is to ensure the travelling public have fares to encourage them to travel and whatever happens in the marketplace, Jetstar survives and grows, and is not one of the airlines that may be consolidated."

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

"We are not looking at being consolidated with another airline. Our whole intent is that we survive in our own right," he said.

Well...they might as well merge with Jetstar itself. :D

"We are not looking at being consolidated with another airline. Our whole intent is that we survive in our own right," he said.

Well...they might as well merge with Jetstar itself. :D

Haha.....possible.....there are reports that Jetstar is flying international routes soon.....:D

Haha.....possible.....there are reports that Jetstar is flying international routes soon.....:D
Yeah so might as well. :D Think about it...if JetStar Asia becomes a part of Jetstar, it wont have to bother about the Singapore-Indonesia aviation agreements! :D

Yeah so might as well. :D Think about it...if JetStar Asia becomes a part of Jetstar, it wont have to bother about the Singapore-Indonesia aviation agreements! :D

true, but hasn't Australia incurred half of ASEAN's ire lately? :D

29 May 2005 - JetStar Asia

http://img194.echo.cx/img194/4290/dsc56347io.jpg

http://img264.echo.cx/img264/3928/dsc56383pc.jpg

@Hyacinthus:

So you've taken Jetstar Asia to Hongkong?? Hows the flight?? :D

meaning? We were assigned fixed seatings when checked in. For a 3.5 hours journey, it's still okay with no frills i.e. no food and entertainment given that I paid only S$240 for the return trip. The food and drinks offered on flight is not very expensive. S$2 for a can of soft drink and S$8 for a meal pack. Just cannot understand why people bring toddlers on flight... they cry so much...

oh... somehow, at the HK airport, we were transferred from somewhere far to the airport by bus from/to the plane in about 5-10 min ride. We were told that photography is strictly not allowed on the tarmac... so, no photos to show.

meaning? We were assigned fixed seatings when checked in. For a 3.5 hours journey, it's still okay with no frills i.e. no food and entertainment given that I paid only S$240 for the return trip. The food and drinks offered on flight is not very expensive. S$2 for a can of soft drink and S$8 for a meal pack. Just cannot understand why people bring toddlers on flight... they cry so much...

oh... somehow, at the HK airport, we were transferred from somewhere far to the airport by bus from/to the plane in about 5-10 min ride. We were told that photography is strictly not allowed on the tarmac... so, no photos to show.

Wah how come still need to take bus?? :eek:

But the rest of the flight sounds decent enough.....:yes:

June 15, 2005
No help for Jetstar to get more flights? Not true, says Govt
Singapore refutes claims by Qantas-backed budget carrier

SINGAPORE has refuted claims by Qantas-backed JetStar Asia that the Government has not done enough to help the airline gain more flight routes.

'It is our desire to see all Singapore carriers, including Jetstar Asia, succeed and the Singapore Government will do its best to facilitate their operations, including negotiating with foreign authorities to remove any restrictions,' a Ministry of Transport statement said.

The ministry's comments, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, were issued on Saturday in response to remarks by Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg in the newspaper a day earlier.

Mr Gregg was quoted as saying 'there appears to be nothing Singapore was prepared to do' after Jetstar was denied the right to fly to Indonesia.

Earlier this month, Singapore Airlines (SIA) was granted 25 new flights to Indonesia, following talks between Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong and the Indonesian government.

There was none for Jetstar, a budget airline in which Qantas has a 49 per cent stake and Singapore's Temasek Holdings, 19 per cent.

Qantas also highlighted Jet- star's woes to back its argument for denying SIA access to the lucrative Australia-United States route.

The Transport Ministry strongly rejected Qantas claims that it had failed to act on Jetstar's behalf.

'Singapore is firmly committed to competition and free trade, and adopts an open and liberal aviation policy,' it said in its statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Straits Times.

'We believe the economic benefits of having more airlines and tourists in Singapore far outweigh the arguments for protecting any incumbent Singapore carrier.'

In any case, it noted that Jetstar was given four other destinations in China and Indonesia, but chose not to fly there. It did not specify the destinations.

'Jetstar Asia has received the requisite traffic rights from the Singapore Government for almost all the operations it has applied,' the ministry said.

'It is therefore unfortunate that senior Qantas officials should cast doubt on this without good grounds.'

However, Jetstar chief executive Ken Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald the four routes it had been offered were 'developmental routes', and not ones such as Shanghai, Jakarta or Surabaya which would be 'absolutely critical' to the airline's profitability.

Jetstar was reportedly blocked from flying to those three destinations by local authorities, and was forced to lease out four of its eight Airbus A320s.

Jetstar currently flies from Singapore to Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila and Bangkok.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 12 Jul 2005

Jetstar confident of future though merger's off: CEO

(SINGAPORE) Fresh from confirming that merger talks with Valuair have fallen through, Jetstar Asia's chief executive Ken Ryan yesterday came out to explain that the future is bright for his company.

Apart from taking delivery of a fifth aircraft later this year, Mr Ryan said Jetstar Asia is in the process of seeking approval from the Cambodian authorities to fly into Phnom Penh and Siam Reap and from the Indian authorities to fly into Calcutta - moves that underscore his confidence in the company.

Qantas-backed Jetstar Asia already flies from Singapore to Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila and Bangkok. But it has reportedly been blocked from flying to potentially profitable destinations like Shanghai, Jakarta or Surabaya.

Until now, it has been forced to lease out four of its eight Airbus 320s to Turkish carrier, Atlas Jet.

Referring to Jetstar's arrangement with Atlas, Mr Ryan said yesterday: 'With one of those aircraft, we reserved the right to withdraw it from the deal. At the last board meeting, because of increasing confidence in the ability of the airline to improve its performance, the board voted to take back that fifth aircraft.'

No doubt underscoring the point that the company is adequately capitalised, he added that Jetstar is also holding discussions with Qantas to source for more aircraft.

Indeed, on the failed talks with Valuair, Mr Ryan said: 'It would have been good if we were able to reach agreement, but the fact that we didn't doesn't impact our ongoing business expansion.'

Certainly, he said much of his confidence stems from having strong support from shareholders who understand the industry and its difficulties, and helps it to overcome the problems.

'The important thing we want to focus on is we have shareholders who understand the industry and are long-term players,' he said. 'As long as they can see improvements in the business, then they are prepared to support the airline going forward... Anyone who is in aviation for the short run is in the wrong industry. It's just not going to happen.'

He added that Qantas, which owns 49 per cent of the company, is a strategic shareholder which provides operational expertise and the ability to hedge its fuel costs.

But he is quick to assure that Qantas 'doesn't dominate, doesn't make all the decisions but offers its resources as and when we feel it's appropriate to use them'.

On the cut-throat competition of airline business which has sparked much talk of consolidation in recent weeks, Mr Ryan reckoned that 'nobody is going to make money until 2006'. But he said, 'It's typical for any new industry to have lots of start-ups. When things become difficult, there'll be a period of consolidation. Our absolute aim is we will survive.'

Certainly, Mr Ryan has soldiered on well in a budget airline sector that has seen a fair amount of leadership changes. But he said the key is simply to be open-minded, and to be prepared to do things differently.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Jetstar Asia to fly S'pore-Kolkata

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/sub/latest/story/0,4574,162998,00.html

Singapore-based budget carrier Jetstar Asia said on Tuesday it will begin flying to the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) next month with regular one-way tickets starting at $218 (US$128).


The Qantas-backed airline said promotional one-way fares for bookings made before July 31 would cost $178, excluding taxes.

Flights will start on August 18 with services to run three times a week, with the rates undercutting the major airlines' fares by about half.

A one-way ticket to Kolkata on Singapore Airlines costs about $700, plus taxes.

Business Times - 28 Jul 2005

COMMENTARY
Will Orange Star give its owners more juice?

The jury's still out on whether a merger of Valuair and Jetstar - so apart ideologically - can produce a fully functioning business

By VEN SREENIVASAN
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

WILL the merger of two low-cost airlines result in a more successful larger company? That's what the industry has been wondering since Valuair and Qantas-controlled Jetstar Asia announced a merger under the umbrella of Orange Star.

Details are sketchy, but Orange Star will be the holding company while the two budget carriers operate as separate and distinct entities - at least for now.

The party that appears to be in control of Orange Star is Qantas. Its chief executive Geoff Dixon is the new chairman, while Ken Ryan, who is on secondment as chief executive of Jetstar, will be chief executive of the holding company. Qantas is said to be investing about $30 million for a 44.5 per cent stake in Orange Star. The other key shareholders include Temasek Holdings, Hong Kong-listed Star Cruises, and businessmen Tony Chew and FF Wong.

It looks fine, except that Orange Star will have to deal with two management teams, two cost structures, two operating models and two fleets - not exactly the best way to go about things in these days of cut-throat competition and soaring fuel costs.

Not surprisingly, analysts are confused.

'In our analysis, neither of the two airlines appears to have been 'knocking the ball out of the park',' says Tim Ross of the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. 'We wonder whether the merger of the two will result in one slightly larger underperformer rather than a fully-functioning business - particularly given the ideological gulf that appears to separate their businesses.'

The problems that Valuair and Jetstar face are not unique. After a promising start, several of the region's low-cost carriers have found the weather turbulent. Protected skies, expensive fuel, unprofitable routes, costly ground services and predatory or irrational pricing by full-service rivals have made the going rough.

Interestingly, other than Air Asia, few of the region's dozen or so budget carriers have revealed their revenue, load numbers or break-even points. But given the circumstances in which they are operating, it doesn't take a genius to guess what these might be.

How many of the newcomers will survive if jet fuel continues to hover above US$70 per barrel?

As Standard & Poor's aviation writer Shukor Yusof pointed out this week, although airline mergers have the potential to create revenue, operating costs can also rise. So the key to Orange Star's success is to quickly boost revenue, while minimising costs.

How Orange Star will achieve this under the current two-airline structure remains to be seen. But operationally merging the two entities is easier said than done.

They are based on different models and technology platforms. There would be issues of staff and asset redundancy. And while Singapore has given the nod for a merged entity to take over all the routes of the two players as long as they use them, the countries they fly to may not take such a generous view.

On top of all this, the factors that stood in the way of the two carriers' success won't change just because they will come under one company.

Fuel costs are huge, key markets like Indonesia remain closed and others like China and India have reservations about allowing foreign budget carriers to fly to their key cities.

Additionally, the cost differential between regional low-cost carriers and their full-service competitors is small compared with those in Europe and the United States. And finally, the region's geography and infrastructure constraints are the same as they always were.

So are the investors of Valuair and Jetstar throwing good money after bad? Would either of them have been better off with a more established player boasting a stronger brand-name, distribution network and presence on the ground?

Only time will tell. But for the moment, one has to believe that the folks who are coughing up some $60 million to get Orange Star going have a solid game plan.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Business Times - 10 Aug 2005

Jetstar marks Kolkata flight launch with SME conference

Budget carrier to fly leaders of at least 20 Singapore SMEs for India event

By VEN SREENIVASAN

(SINGAPORE) It may be an unusual way to mark an inaugural flight, especially if you are a budget carrier, but Singapore-based Jet star Asia is organising a conference of small and medium-sized corporations in Kolkata to celebrate its first flight to the Indian city.

The Qantas associate, which recently merged with rival Valuair under the Orange Star banner, has tied up with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the GA Group (the Global Indian Business Network) to organise the first ever Singapore-India Small & Medium Enterprise conference in Kolkata, India.

The event is being organised in conjunction with the budget carrier's inaugural flight to the Indian city on Aug 18.

And Jetstar has committed itself to fly out the captains of at least 20 leading Singapore SMEs to Kolkata for the event. 'SMEs are a key target market for budget carriers like us,' said Dorit Grueber, head of marketing at Jetstar Asia. 'We see a lot of SME executives travelling on our flights and with India now opening up, we believe we can facilitate the process of building bridges.'

Kolkata, in the state of West Bengal, is also a strategic entry-point to growth areas in the Indian east-coast markets and is home to many successful Indian companies.

A key highlight of the four-day conference will be discussions of the implications and impact of the CECA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement), where participants will identify opportunities to capitalise on the agreement recently inked by Singapore and India.

Besides the SME conference which will be presided over by the Chief Minister of the state, Buddhadev Bhattacharya, the organisers have also arranged a series of networking opportunities for the Singapore and Indian SMEs. There will also be a Jetstar Asia/ FICCI/West Bengal government joint press conference.

Kolkata is Jetstar's latest destination, and the airline will start thrice-weekly services to the Indian city next week. It currently flies to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila and Taipei. And it expects to start flights soon to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Following a difficult seven months, Jetstar and privately-owned discount carrier Valuair last month announced a merger under an investment company called Orange Star.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon is the chairman of the new holding company, while Jetstar Asia's chief executive Ken Ryan is its chief executive. Qantas is investing about $30 million for a 44.5 per cent stake in Orange Star.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.