Qantas' low-cost subsidiary Jetstar expects to add two new long-haul routes from its Singapore hub next year as it grows its fleet of Airbus A330s based at Changi Airport.
The airline launched its first long-haul flights out of Singapore today, with a service to Melbourne. It will begin operating on the Singapore-Auckland route from 17 March 2011.
Jetstar is operating its eighth A330 on the Singapore-Melbourne route, and expects three more A330s to join the fleet in Singapore next year.
The first will arrive by March before the commencement of the Auckland service, and another two will arrive in the second half of the year, says a Jetstar spokeswoman. These aircraft have not been allocated to routes yet.
Jetstar Australia and New Zealand's CEO David Hall says the airline is studying new destinations from Singapore. "There are loads of opportunities out there, and we haven't decided on anything yet," he adds.
Besides adding more A330s, Jetstar also expects its first Boeing 787s to arrive in mid-2012. Hall says the airline has not been notified of any change in the delivery schedule by Boeing, despite recent delays to the 787 programme.
Qantas has 50 787s on order and plans to allocate half of these to Jetstar. In July, it said it had brought forward the delivery slots of its first eight 787s, which will be operated by Jetstar for international flights to Asia and southern Europe.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
