Jetstar pan-Asia plan has flights to Beijing
"JETSTAR is expected to begin flights to Beijing after finally gaining airport landing slots but will have to wait longer before it can fly on to Europe because it lacks the necessary traffic rights.
Jetstar's expansion in Asia comes as speculation grows about the loss-making routes its parent, Qantas, will cut as part of a review of its international operations.
Analysts believe the routes most likely to be ditched include those to Buenos Aires and Bangkok.
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Qantas flies to Europe via Singapore and Bangkok and it is considered Jetstar will take over services to the Thai capital.
Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan is due to make a ''significant announcement'' in Beijing today about the no-frills airline's pan-Asia network.
It was unclear yesterday whether Jetstar would be offering direct flights between Australia and Beijing or its Singapore affiliate, Jetstar Asia, widening its reach into the fast-growing Chinese market. Jetstar Asia's chief, Chong Phit Lian, is also due in Beijing for the ''network announcement''.
Jetstar does not offer direct flights between Australia and China but Jetstar Asia has services from its Singapore base to destinations on the Chinese mainland, including Shanghai and Guilin. Jetstar has been seeking landing slots in Beijing for the past three years.
In March, the Australian and Chinese governments agreed to increase the cap on the number of seats on flights between the two countries. Chinese airlines have boosted flights to Australia over the past year.
Qantas has previously flagged interest in building a base in China as part of a launch pad for flights by itself or Jetstar to Europe. The group does have the necessary air rights from Chinese authorities to fly to Europe but it is yet to gain approval from European regulators.
Qantas operates six flights a week, using Airbus A330s, between Sydney and Shanghai. The airline does not fly to Beijing.
Shares in Qantas fell the most in four months yesterday, closing down 9.5¢ at $1.84."
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Jetstar pan-Asia plan has flights to Beijing