Another Aussie airline bites the dust!

I'll piss my pants laughing if they start flying international out of who-gives-a-toss-Avalon.

"Welcome citizens of XYZ-Asian Country, welcome to Geelong!" etc.

Low-cost domestic business models would surely differ from low-cost international business models, hrm?

edit:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/natio...ushes-into-asia/2006/04/11/1144521340653.html

Budget carrier Jetstar pushes into Asia

By Stephen Moynihan
Transport Reporter
April 12, 2006

Qantas is accelerating its shift into the budget travel market, with its low-cost carrier Jetstar to begin international long-haul flights into Asia and Hawaii from November.

Jetstar International will initially fly non-stop services to five Asian destinations and Honolulu.

It could also consider launching the first international passenger services from Avalon Airport, near Geelong, which it now uses for some of its domestic flights.

Yesterday's announcement follows Qantas' decision to axe its loss-making international leisure carrier, Australian Airlines, from July.

Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said about 40 Australian Airlines jobs would be lost, but Jetstar's long- haul expansion would create 550 jobs, most of them in Victoria.

Melbourne-based Jetstar has applied to upgrade its operating certificate for long-haul flights.

Chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline would not rule out international flights from Avalon.

However, he said Jetstar was committed to keeping operating costs 40 per cent lower than Qantas and installing customs and immigration facilities at Avalon could be too expensive.

Jetstar will begin international flights in November. It will fly from Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney to six destinations, including non-stop services from Melbourne to Honolulu, Bali and Bangkok.

Jetstar will operate six A330-200 aircraft before swapping to Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with deliveries to begin in August 2008.

Passengers would be offered two classes of travel but will have to pay for meals.

The airline has indicated it may later add more routes from Melbourne, including to other destinations in Asia and possibly to Europe.

Mr Joyce said about 90 per cent of Jetstar's passengers booked flights online. The airline hoped to offer low-cost overseas air travel to new passengers, he said.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Chris Barlow welcomed the airline's announcement. He said it was good news for Victorian travellers and strengthened the airline's already successful stint at Tullamarine.

HUN article has more meat in it:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18789243%5E2862,00.html

550 jobs as Jetstar flies high
John Masanauskas, aviation reporter
12apr06

NO-frills airline Jetstar has pledged significantly cheaper fares to Asia and the Pacific when it starts international flights in November.

Jetstar International will fly from Melbourne to Bali, Bangkok and Honolulu.

The Qantas subsidiary will also offer services to Vietnam, Honolulu and Japan from Sydney, and to Japan from Brisbane.

Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the launch of Jetstar International would provide an extra 550 jobs by mid-2007, most of them located at its Melbourne base.

"Jetstar will be grown aggressively over the next three years while we continue to expand Qantas's international operations," he said.

As reported in the Herald Sun yesterday, Jetstar will take over some routes now run by Qantas's other leisure carrier, Australian Airlines.

Australian will be merged into the Qantas brand from July, costing about 40 cabin crew jobs in Cairns.

In Victoria, Jetstar's new international flights will leave from Melbourne airport; but the airline's CEO, Alan Joyce, said Avalon, near Geelong, would be considered for overseas services later.

"We are talking to (airport owner) Linfox about the potential there, and we'll keep an eye on it," he said.

Jetstar, which will get new-generation Boeing 787 aircraft from 2008, is expected to launch flights to the US and Europe in 2011.

Mr Joyce said its Asia-Pacific fares would be revealed in June, including launch prices not seen before on those routes.

The Melbourne schedule will be two weekly services to Honolulu and Bali and three a week to Bangkok.

Unlike its domestic operation, Jetstar International will have assigned seating and two cabin classes.

It will start flying with six Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Mr Joyce said the Melbourne head office would grow from 120 to 170 staff and the city would get a pilot and a crew base for its international services.

Jetstar also wanted a crew base in Asia, he said.

"We want some cultural dimensions to the service and some Asian crew," he said.

Go Richard, kick Dickson's monopolistic ass!