Singapore-based low-cost carrier Jetstar Asia plans to launch four-times weekly service on the Singapore-Haikou route.

The new service will commence on 16 December, says the carrier. Haikou is the capital of China's Hainan province, located near the popular beach resort of Sanya.

The service will be operated by Jetstar Asia's eighth Airbus A320 aircraft, which will arrive in December.

"Mainland China has immense potential for Jetstar's low fares offering and the broader Jetstar Group network connections," says Jetstar Asia CEO Chong Phit Lian. "China is a clear focus of future growth and with our expanding fleet in 2010, we are in the stage of actively assessing future potential growth."

Haikou will be the carrier's 19th destination from Singapore and will be included in Jetstar Asia's interline agreement with Qantas.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news