Jetstar considers international operations from Avalon

Jetstar stated it would not consider launching international operations from Melbourne Avalon Airport until it achieves substantial domestic growth, but admitted the airport would be ideally placed if the Australian Government fast-tracked approval of common border trans-Tasman operations (Geelong Advertiser, 02-Sep-2010). The carrier also commented that it remains committed to Avalon Airport, despite recently announcing plans to expand from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Jetstar stated the move was in response to increased competition at Tullamarine from Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia.

Jetstar: "It's a policy decision which would obviously require significant changes to quarantine, customs and immigration arrangements for either or both governments. But it's an area we think should be explored and continue to be explored once we get a new Federal Government. The former prime minister Kevin Rudd strongly advocated that he believed it was a direction we should be looking at," Simon Westaway, Spokesperson. Source: Geelong Advertiser, 02-Sep-2010.