In a noteworthy adjustment to its international network, Jetstar will redirect capacity from intra-Asian flights to launch nonstop flights between Melbourne and Phuket early December and add services to Honolulu and Singapore from Melbourne, while trimming services within Asia.
Starting December 14, the direct flights from Melbourne to Phuket will operate every Saturday and Sunday with a third weekly service to be introduced from March 2014.
From 19 December, Melbourne-Honolulu will increase from three to four times a week while Melbourne- Singapore will increase from five to six times a week as of 18 December.
To enable the new international services, Jetstar will suspend its four weekly services between Singapore and Osaka from November 1 and its three weekly services between Singapore and Beijing from November 30. Jetstar will continue to serve Osaka from Singapore, operating up to 14 weekly flights via Taipei and four per week via Manila.
The new Melbourne-based services will be operated by Jetstar’s existing fleet of A330s until the end of January after which the airline will begin to deploy its soon-to-be delivered 787s on the routes.
Jetstar Group chief commercial officer David Koczkar said: “As we progressively transition our A330s to the more fuel efficient Boeing 787s, customers will continue to benefit from our low fares well into the future.
The airline said as preparations ramp up for the Boeing 787’s entry into service, Jetstar is looking at a range of destinations to deploy capacity on and further international announcements will follow.
Jetstar has 14 B787s on order, with three aircraft due to be delivered by the end of 2013.
