Jetstar to launch long haul services from Singapore from late 2010

Jetstar announced (12-May-2010) plans to launch long haul services from Singapore to Australia, North Asia and/or European destinations from late 2010. Under the plans, Jetstar will base two A330-200 aircraft at its major Asian hub at Singapore Changi Airport. The first of these aircraft are to arrive in Nov-2010 with the second in Jan-2011 (AFP, 12-May-2010). CEO, Bruce Buchanan, stated the airline is in discussions with several airports to finalise arrangements and the airlines aims to launch commercial pre-flight sales soon. Spokesperson, Simon Westaway, stated the first long haul service is expected to be launched in Dec-2010, but the destination is yet to be finalised. Mr Westaway added Jetstar's international services from Australia have proved there will always be demand for travel, even in a shrinking market, if the price is right. [more]

Jetstar: "IATA figures say the Asian market is now the largest in the world. It's only going to expand. The reason that we are doing all the investment in Asia is that we want us to be an Asian success in Asia because that's where the growth is...So even in contracting markets, what's happening is that the customer base is moving towards the value-based providers because of obviously affordability," Simon Westaway, Spokesperson. Source: AFP, 12-May-2010.