Jetstar has launched a four-times weekly Darwin-Manila-Tokyo service as it increases international flights to and from the Northern Territory capital.
The budget carrier will also increase weekly flights on its Darwin-Singapore route from seven to 10. The new services go into effect on March 25.
In a statement, Jetstar Australia CEO David Hall said Darwin was a critical part of the airline’s plans to compete with a growing number of overseas budget airlines.
“Darwin is perfectly positioned as a gateway between the rest of Australia and South East Asia, plus it’s a tourist hot-spot in its own right,” he said.
The announcement of the Darwin-Tokyo service also comes as Jetstar Japan moves toward a planned launch later this year. One-way fares from Darwin to Tokyo will start from $339, Jetstar said.
As part of the changes, Jetstar will cancel its four-time weekly Darwin-Ho Chi Minh City service, instead routing Vietnam bound passengers through Sinapore. Jetstar Asia recently increased Singapore-Ho Chi Minh services to 27 times a week and added new four-times weekly services between Singapore and Hanoi.