Australia’s value based international airline Jetstar has taken flight to the United States for the first time with its inaugural service from Sydney to Honolulu. The 3 times weekly service will be followed on 29 December by Jetstar’s first direct Melbourne to Honolulu flight - operating 2 times weekly as a new international route for the Qantas Group.

Hawaii is Jetstar international’s fifth launch market since its 23 November commencement of value based long haul flights from Australia offering two classes of service including StarClass, Jetstar’s business class.

The destination remains a highly desirable market for Australians with visitation levels growing almost 9 per cent last year with more than 60,000 first time Australian visitors during 2006 according to Hawaii Tourism.

Jetstar’s fleet of wide body Airbus 330s (303 seat configured) now operate directly between either Sydney or Melbourne to Bangkok, Phuket, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) and Bali.

Future services to Osaka* will commence from 25 March 2007 with daily flights from Sydney* and a return service via Brisbane*, with operations commencing between Cairns* and western Japan from 2 August 2007. (*Flights subject to regulatory approval).

Jetstar Flight JQ3 from Sydney was farewelled at 6pm in celebratory style at Sydney Airport, capturing some of the culture, flavour and unique attractiveness of Hawaii, including special inflight offerings.

Passengers on Jetstar’s inaugural Hawaii services had purchased special all inclusive one way web fares at Jetstar.com from just $249.

Jetstar’s Hawaii services have all inclusive one way web fares now available for travel from $579 ex Sydney and $598 direct from Melbourne at Jetstar.com, in addition to Jetstar Holidays specials.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said Qantas would continue to operate Sydney-Honolulu services 3 times weekly to complement Jetstar’s new 5 weekly frequencies and fresh capacity on the Australia - Hawaii route for the Qantas Group.

“Jetstar’s new international services are operating ahead of expectation. We have confidence the airline will perform well on the competitive Hawaii market,” Mr Joyce said.

“Jetstar can offer low fares on our new international routes by achieving the best cost base of all international carriers operating in Australia, replicating our cost leadership in the local market.”

Sydney Airport will be the base for the majority of Jetstar’s new long haul international services during its first phase of growth.* Flights Subject to Regulatory approval
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