Jetstar has been successful in obtaining a variation to its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) permitting its fleet of Airbus A330-200s to fly long haul international services from Australia.The regulatory approval is the final hurdle to allow Jetstar to commence its valued based international services to commence on the Melbourne - Bangkok route from 23 November 2006.

Jetstar will operate an initial fleet of A330-200s (303 seat configured), offering two classes of service including StarClass, Jetstar’s business class.

Extended Range Operations (ETOPS) for the airline’s A330-200 fleet has also been approved by the regulator. This will enable Jetstar to operate proposed services to Honolulu from both Sydney and Melbourne, set to commence from 27 and 29 December respectively.

Jetstar also has ETOPS for A320 operations on trans Tasman and Australian domestic services. Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said CASA had provided approval for Jetstar to operate existing pre-sold international routes including:

á Melbourne-Bangkok 3 times weekly from 23 November 2006
á Sydney-Phuket 3 times weekly from 24 November 2006
á Sydney-Ho Chi Minh City 3 times weekly from 30 November 2006
á Sydney-Bali 2 times weekly from 8 December 2006
á Melbourne-Bali. 2 times weekly from 9 December 2006

Mr Joyce welcomed the approvals, “The Jetstar organisation is ecstatic to have obtained regulatory approval to commence our new international flights and we are ready for take-off on 23 November in Melbourne.”

“Our every day low fare international services will take Jetstar into a price leadership position in international leisure markets, with clear benefits for both Australian travellers and our tourism industry” Mr Joyce said.
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