Jetstar to open crew base in Perth

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Jetstar to set up pilot crew base in Perth
12th March 2009, 6:00 WST

Jetstar will set up a pilot crew base in Perth, underpinning the growth of its flights into Asia and more domestic destinations.

The increase in operations for its 180-seat A320 planes comes a month after the airline launched services from Perth to Cairns and Adelaide.

Figures show that passengers are moving from Qantas for cheaper seats on its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.

While Qantas’ international passenger numbers slumped 11.6 per cent in January, Jetstar’s increased 35 per cent, in part because of the new routes.

On domestic routes, Qantas carried 2.7 per cent fewer passengers in January while Jetstar numbers jumped 9.3 per cent.

Jetstar will also open a crew base in Darwin and will expand bases at Cairns, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, but will close its Hobart base.

Chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the growth and realignment of Jetstar aircraft bases and associated pilot and engineering staff would maintain capacity and flights.

In the past three months Jetstar has launched international flights from Perth to Jakarta, Singapore and Bali.

Its fleet is now 34 A320s and six 330-seat A330s.
GEOFFREY THOMAS