Jetstar To Sell 100,000 Seats At A$29

[Wirraway]

news.com.au

Wednesday February 25, 2:02 PM AEDT

Jetstar flies with $29 fare
25feb04

THE Jetstar low-cost carrier would start flying on May 25 with flights from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to 10 eastern Australian destinations, Qantas Airways said today.

Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon said Jetstar would operate from Melbourne's Tullamarine and Avalon Airports.
He said Jetstar would initially fly to key leisure destinations such as the Whitsundays, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Tasmania.

Jetstar will operate up to 88 flights a day, or more than 600 a week, increasing up to 116 flights a day, or about 800 flights a week, by August 2004, Mr Dixon said.

Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon said Jetstar would offer 100,000 seats at a special introductory price of $29 via the Jetstar.com website from 0600 AEDT tomorrow.

"The choice of Avalon is in line with our commitment to service the Australian leisure travel market," Mr Dixon said.

He said that establishing the airport in Avalon, which is 55km from Melbourne's central business district and 19km from Geelong, would also make it easier for those in the local area to fly Jetstar to Sydney and Brisbane.

Avalon Airport is owned by Lindsay Fox's LinFox.

Qantas said that from June 2004, Jetstar would operate 42 flights a week between Avalon and Sydney and 28 flights a week between Brisbane and Avalon, as well as 246 flights a week between Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport and six other destinations.

Mr Dixon said that the triple daily flights from Melbourne (Avalon) to Sydney would suit both same-day return travellers and passengers wanting longer stays with morning, late afternoon and evening services.

The double daily services to Brisbane were equally convenient with morning and late afternoon or evening flights, he said.

Linfox Airports Managing Director, David Fox, said the deal was a milestone day for the company.

"Over the past few years we have developed Avalon into a centre for aviation excellence. It is a major aerospace centre for aircraft maintenance, international air freight and pilot training," he said.

"Moving into passenger flights will complement our existing activities and over time increase the workforce on site considerably," Mr Fox said.

Mr Dixon said while the initial network for Jetstar includes 10 destinations, it was planned to expand progressively from November 2004 with flights to Perth, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Broome, Townsville and Adelaide.

He said that for maximum simplicity, Jetstar would offer only two types of fares – a Jet Flex fare, and a Jet Saver fare.

Jet Flex fares allow changes up to 30 minutes before departure through Jetstar Telephone Reservations for no fee. Jet Saver fares allow time, date and name changes up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.

Mr Dixon said Jetstar would feature one class of travel, initially on 125-seat Boeing 717 aircraft but moving to an all Airbus A320 fleet by mid-2006.

It also offered free-style seating, to allow for the fastest possible departure. Mr Dixon said that Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink together would offer a comprehensive and complementary range of services.

"Jetstar's launch gives Qantas and QantasLink a great opportunity to grow on those routes that are particularly suited to our full-service and regional products," he said.

Mr Dixon said Qantas would boost frequencies on its Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane routes from May 2004 and take its total Boeing 737-800 fleet to 26 by mid 2005.

It would also streamline its core domestic fleet, operating only two types of aircraft, Boeing 737s and Boeing 767s, phasing out its older 737-300s and progressively transferring its A330s to international flying.

It also would offer a two-class jet operation on all Qantas Airlines domestic routes and add four new 50-seat Dash 8 aircraft to the QantasLink regional fleet, in addition to the three already delivered from January 2004.

Qantas and QantasLink will continue to operate on all their present routes with the exception of Maroochydore and Proserpine, he said.

============================================

[Johhny Utah]

Jetstar website is now up: jetstar web site (http://www.jetstar.com.au)

I guess that Virgin will now have to match them for price - might be a bit of a bigger ask than simply undercutting QF mainline fares by $5.

Does this mean that JetStar is now "keeping the air fair"?:rolleyes:

[Howard Hughes]

Let the games begin!! (in best Ceaser voice)


HH.

:ok:

[Wirraway]

news.com.au

Fares dive as Jetstar takes off
By Toby Forage and wires
February 25, 2004

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,323762,00.jpg

DOMESTIC airfares could dive as low as $1 between capital cities after Jetstar announced its ticketing policy and pricing today.

Qantas chief Geoff Dixon will be all smiles if Jetstar outruns Virgin Blue in the domestic market.

Qantas' no-frills answer to Virgin Blue - based in Melbourne - announced the release of $29 introductory fares, available through its website from 6am tomorrow.

Virgin is expected to reply by slashing its fares to new lows in the months leading up to Jetstar's May 25 take-off date.

Virgin chief executive Brett Godfrey yesterday hinted some Virgin Blue seats could be sold for as little as $1 or even be given away in the battle to beat Jetstar's low-cost start.

"I'll tell you right now, we will not be beaten by price by any carrier - be it Jetstar or Qantas or anyone else," he said yesterday.

Jetstar's operational home will be Avalon Airport - near Geelong - where flights to Sydney and Brisbane will depart.

It will operate 42 flights a week between Avalon and Sydney and 28 flights a week between Brisbane and Avalon from June this year, as well as 246 flights a week between Tullamarine Airport and Sydney and six other destinations, including the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, Newcastle, Hamilton Island and Tasmanian destinations.

Avalon is located on a toll free stretch of the Princes Highway 55km from Melbourne.

Mr Dixon said "While the initial network for Jetstar included 10 destinations, it is planned to expand progressively from November 2004 with flights to Perth, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Broome, Townsville and Adelaide."

Jetstar will feature one class of travel, initially on 125-seat Boeing 717 aircraft but moving to an all Airbus A320 fleet by mid-2006.

It will also offer freestyle seating, to allow for the fastest possible departure.

Qantas and Virgin have already been involved in fare-cutting skirmishes, with prices so far this year dipping as low as $33 for a one-way fare between Sydney and Melbourne and $295 return between Sydney and Perth.

Victorian Treasurer John Brumby said the Lindsay Fox-owned Avalon airport was in a great location and had great infrastructure.

"(Avalon is) fantastic in terms of its potential to serve the western side of Melbourne, Geelong and the west coast," Mr Brumby told ABC Radio.

Passengers will have to buy their own food onboard, as they do on Virgin Blue, and will do without full-service trimmings such as lounges and frequent-flyer points.

Jetstar's fleet comprises entirely of Boeing 717s but a newer fleet of 23 177-seat Airbus A320s is planned.

============================================

[Triple 7]

Well buy plenty of these cheap tickets and then sell then online at ebay, you could make a small fortune.

Remember to use you MasterCard, as the ad would say :

New Travel Bag $ 200, New Shoes $ 300, New suit $ 700
Taxi ride to airport $ 70 , Flight on Jetstar : $Priceless $

For everything else use you MasterCard. :ok:

[laydown]

Yes, its quite ironic that these Airlines are bending over backwards to fly you to your favorite capital city for $29 when the taxi ride to the airport will cost you at least $50 in a smelly rundown commodore with a driver who can't speak english and doesn't know where he's going. I don't get it?

[Wirraway]

Qantas press release

“Jetstar will operate up to 88 flights per day – more than 600 per week – increasing up to 116 flights a day, or around 800 flights a week, by August 2004,” Mr Dixon said.
He said the Jetstar network would initially cover:

BRISBANE TO:
HAMILTON ISLAND, CAIRNS, HOBART, MACKAY, MELBOURNE (AVALON), NEWCASTLE, PROSERPINE & ROCKHAMPTON.

SYDNEY TO:
GOLD COAST, HAMILTON ISLAND, HOBART, LAUNCESTON, SUNSHINE COAST, MACKAY, MELBOURNE (AVALON) & ROCKHAMPTON.

MELBOURNE (TULLAMARINE) TO:
GOLD COAST, HAMILTON ISLAND, HOBART, LAUNCESTON, NEWCASTLE, SUNSHINE COAST.

MELBOURNE (AVALON) TO:
BRISBANE & SYDNEY


“While our initial network includes 10 destinations, we plan to expand progressively from November 2004 with flights to Perth, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Broome, Townsville and Adelaide,” Mr Dixon said.

He said the initial schedule included a range of capacity increases and benefits for individual travellers and Australian tourism.

Tasmania

New direct daily services from Brisbane, offering Brisbane passengers who previously connected over Sydney or Melbourne a non-stop service
A double daily service from Sydney to Launceston (from August 2004), operating morning and afternoon to provide greater flexibility and a same day return option
With Qantas and Jetstar flights, there will be 5,000 additional seats per week on Hobart routes (an increase of nearly 30 per cent) as well as more than 2,500 additional seats each week on Launceston routes (an increase of nearly 30 per cent)

Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast

Nearly 20 per cent more Sydney-Gold Coast capacity, with Qantas maintaining two Sydney-Gold Coast services per day in addition to Jetstar’s eight daily flights
20 per cent more seats on the Melbourne-Gold Coast route
A 30 per cent increase in capacity from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast, and 10 per cent more seats from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast – with potential for further increases in capacity

Hamilton Island

40 per cent more seats into Hamilton Island, with A320 aircraft operating from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-Hamilton Island services going to double daily (up from 12 per week) from August 2004
Melbourne passengers will have the convenience of a daily frequency (currently Qantas operates three times a week) to Hamilton Island

Mr Dixon said that other destinations included:

Newcastle – daily jet services to Melbourne and Brisbane

Rockhampton – increased direct flights from Sydney and a 20 per cent increase in the seats offered by Qantas and Jetstar (Qantas will maintain one service per day from Brisbane)

Mackay – a new direct service from Sydney and 45 per cent more seats into the port by Qantas and Jetstar (Qantas will maintain one service per day from Brisbane)

Cairns – double daily services from Brisbane increasing to four times a day with an overall increase in seats from Qantas and Jetstar

He said that for maximum simplicity, Jetstar would offer only two types of fares – a Jet Flex fare, and a Jet Saver fare – both offered for one-way travel to allow flexibility for travellers.
Jet Flex fares allow changes up to 30 minutes prior to departure through Jetstar Telephone Reservations for no fee. Jet Saver fares allow time, date and name changes up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.

“A key benefit is that Jetstar’s cheapest fares will be available without any restriction on which day you travel,” he said.
Jetstar’s one-way, all-inclusive internet fares will be priced from:

Mr Dixon said Jetstar would offer a product and service that would offer customers great value for money.

“Jetstar is a low fares airline, but will be offering a very good quality product,” he said.

He said Jetstar would feature:

One class of travel, initially on 125-seat Boeing 717 aircraft but moving to an all Airbus A320 fleet by mid-2006

177 luxury slim-line, all-leather seats on its A320s – the first of which will be delivered in mid-2004

A range of hot and cold beverages (including alcohol) and snacks for purchase inflight

A range of destination-specific and Jetstar-branded merchandise for purchase inflight

A comprehensive inflight audio program, with reusable headsets for purchase inflight and a bimonthly inflight magazine

Free-style seating, to allow for the fastest possible departure

Mr Dixon said Qantas Club and Chairmans Lounge members would continue to have access to the Qantas network of lounges when travelling on Jetstar flights, and Qantas Frequent Flyers would be able to redeem or “burn” points** on Jetstar flights.

He said interest in Jetstar had been high, with more than 28,000 people applying for jobs with the Jetstar web site since December 2003.

The lowest Jetstar fares will be available on-line at the Jetstar web site at Jetstar.com.

Jetstar’s one-way, all-inclusive internet fares will be priced from:
Melbourne – Hobart $69
Rockhampton – Brisbane $69
Sydney – Gold Coast $79
Sunshine Coast – Sydney $79
Brisbane – Mackay $89
Brisbane – Proserpine $99
Launceston – Sydney $99
Melbourne – Gold Coast $119

Quoted from ASX QAN Media Release.


============================================
travelbiz.com.au

May launch for Jetstar with three-city focus

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be the crux of new Qantas subsidiary Jetstar’s network when it starts flying on May 25 with 88 services a day.

The airline will also initially fly to 10 leisure destinations: Hamilton Island, Cairns, Mackay, Newcastle, Proserpine, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Hobart and Launceston.

The airline plans to increase services to 116 a day by August this year.

Network expansion will begin in November with Perth, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Darwin, Broome, Townsville and Adelaide joining progressively.

Qantas ceo Geoff Dixon said he had made a commitment to the premiers of South Australia and Western Australia to service those states by the end of this year and in early 2005 respectively.

To celebrate the launch of the airline, 100,000 seats will be available for $29 over the Internet, starting at 6am tomorrow, February 26, until sold out or midnight on February 29.

Travel agents are able to sell the discounted seats.

After the introductory sale ends, Jetstar said its one-way, web-only, all-inclusive fares would start from $69 for Melbourne to Hobart and $149 for Sydney to Mackay.

Jetstar ceo Alan Joyce has confirmed that the new airline will fly five flights a day out of Avalon Airport near Geelong from May 25.

Avalon Airport owner and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox is expected to spend $3 million developing a passenger terminal and roads at the cargo and maintenance facility.

But Tullamarine will still be the major port for Jetstar, with 240 services a week departing from there.

Secondary airports will continue to be part of Jetstar’s strategy, with Joyce confirming the airline was looking at servicing Richmond Airport in Sydney.

Controversially, Dixon said in future Qantas would stop operating to some leisure destinations that were serviced by Jetstar, including Maroochydore and Proserpine.

Some tourism bodies have already raised concerns that the pullout of Qantas could result in cuts in capacity to their destinations.

Contrary to recent media reports, Avalon will not offer free car parking.

Parking at the airport will cost $7 a day.

Skybus will also operate to Avalon from both Geelong and Melbourne.

A Skybus fare from Melbourne to Avalon will cost $13 – the same as to Tullamarine.

The airline will spend $15 million on consumer advertising to promote its launch and has recorded a 60-second television commercial with Magda Szubanski.

No trade advertising is planned.

The airline will launch with 14 B717s which have QantasLink branding, but from June the aircraft will be phased out and A320s will be introduced.

The 320s will have Jetstar livery, 177 leather seats and inflight entertainment systems.

Jetstar said it would operate a minimum of 23 aircraft by mid next year.

The airline will offer unallocated seating like its European low-cost counterpart, Ryanair, to allow for quicker turnaround of aircraft.

25 February 2004

===========================================

[DJ737]

200,000 DJ tickets available now at $29, why get up at 0600? :p

DJ737

The Roo Rooter :E :ok:

[Wirraway]

virginblue.com.au

“WE OFFER TWICE THE SERVICE JETSTAR DOES ”
200,000 SEATS ON SALE NOW AT $29*

Virgin Blue has been the tried and tested low fare airline for the past three years. We welcome the competition, but as we’re sure they will discover, taking off in Australia takes more than low fares. It takes a great network, new planes and a vibrant crew. Thanks for supporting the airline that supports everyday Australians. Without you, we couldn’t keep the air fair.

Get online at www.virginblue.com.au, or call 13 6789 or your travel agent now.

These $29* fares are available in both directions between the destinations below, on sale now until midnight (AESST) 29 February 2004 or until sold out, for travel from 1 May to 30 June 2004.

Brisbane - Cairns Melbourne - Gold Coast Sydney - Gold Coast
Brisbane - Hobart Melbourne - Hobart Sydney - Sunshine Coast

Brisbane - Mackay Melbourne - Launceston

Brisbane - Newcastle Melbourne - Newcastle
Brisbane - Rockhampton Melbourne - Sunshine Coast
Brisbane - Whitsunday Coast

* Conditions and travel restrictions apply. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or peak days. Direct flights only. Fares are one way on the net or $10 more by phone. For sale now to midnight (AESST) 29 February 2004 or until sold out, for travel 1 May to 30 June 2004.

===========================================
Wed "The Australian" late news

Virgin ups air price ante
February 25, 2004

VIRGIN Blue has upped the ante on budget newcomer Jetstar by offering twice as many $29 airfares as the new cut-price Qantas airline.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said today Jetstar's announcement of 100,000 seats to some of Australia's favourite destinations for only $29 would be more than matched by Virgin Blue's offer of 200,000 seats.

Virgin Blue would also beat Jetstar to the punch by making the seats available on the internet today instead of tomorrow, as in the case of Jetstar's allocation.

Mr Godfrey welcomed the new competition but said Virgin Blue would never be undercut in the market.

"To you Jetstar, we say 'we'll match your 100,000 and raise you another 100,000'," Mr Godfrey said in Brisbane today.

"We are twice the airline, sorry twice the size, so as a result we can afford to do this."

Both the Jetstar and Virgin Blue seats will be available for flights from May 25, when Jetstar commences flying, to the end of June.

Mr Godfrey said Jetstar's pricing structure was similar to that of Virgin Blue and the cheap seats offer represented around three or four days' flying on both airlines.

But he indicated the new airfare war may have only just begun.

In the last six weeks alone, Virgin Blue had offered 500,000 discounted fares.

"So, for us, this is just another case of discounting tickets," Mr Godfrey said.

Virgin Blue has given away cheap fares for as little as $1 and Mr Godfrey said such offers would continue for special occasions, birthday offers and periods when it was difficult to sell airline seats.

Virgin Blue would announce new routes over the next few days, he said.

The Queensland government today welcomed the new airline, with Tourism Minister Margaret Keech hailing Jetstar as a multi-million dollar boost to the state's tourism industry.

Mrs Keech said the new Qantas airline would dramatically improve access to popular Queensland destinations from the Gold Coast to Cairns.

"Queensland will be the big winner when Jetstar takes off in May, with 64 per cent of the airline's capacity servicing the state," Mrs Keech said.

============================================

[Yeah..Whatever]

Can someone please tell me what "free-style seating allowing faster departure times" means.

Does this mean its a first on best seat policy, my rugby background might help me get through the boarding gate for that good seat???

[737opsguy]

Free-style seating means that boarding is usually done in sequence order. That is, the first person to check-in is the first person on the flight.

The intention is that people will check-in earlier for their flights because of this. But more importantly people will stay in the boarding gate area and want to board the aircraft quickly.

Would be interested to know how they do their load and trim sheet using this approach???

[cunningham]

I wish I could look at the introduction of Jetstar with the same excitement and anticipation as the punters. However in my opinion cheap airfares means reducing pay rates and CoS for industry employees. I have sympathy for those who are just starting out in this career. Remember people in the end someone always pays !!

[Wirraway]

ZD Net

Jetstar and Virgin Blue sites crash

The Web sites of Virgin Blue and Jetstar airlines are offline after a "special offer" triggered a buying frenzy that is believed to have overloaded the companies' Web servers.
Jetstar, the new low-cost airline owned by Qantas, announced it would sell 100,000 seats from 6am today at a one-way price of AU$29 as a special introductory offer. The airline is due to start flying in May. Virgin Blue countered, announcing that it would match the AU$29 fare, but would offer 200,000 seats. Eager travellers have apparently jumped on the offers -- both Web-sites have simply disappeared.

It's likely they've been crushed by demand, says Mathew Proctor, managing director of Imagineering Technologies, which operates a data-centre.

"Being unable to support the level of interest they have generated wipes out any benefit in publicity or sales they might have achieved," Proctor said. "Competing businesses have rushed to get their products to market without putting in place the supporting infrastructure."

Proctor says it's ironic that offering a good deal was, in affect, enough to put the two airlines out of business, at least temporarily.

Security consultant Adam Pointon, who spends considerable time figuring out ways to keep his clients online 24/7, says you can't help but have a bit of a laugh about it.

"It's pretty funny, and I think they should have seen it coming. It's self-inflicted," he said. "Obviously the marketing department didn't consult with the IT department."

Virgin Blue and Jetstar representatives were unable to comment at the time of writing.

===========================================

[gaunty]

Is Perth still part of Australia and can the B717/A320 make it here without a stop at Forrest. :{

[Wirraway]

AAP

Jetstar 'sells 30,000 tickets'
February 26, 2004

THE nation's newest budget airline Jetstar caused a ticketing stampede today, with more than three million hits on its website by early afternoon.

More than 30,000 $29 tickets had been sold since they went on sale at 6am (AEDT), a Jetstar spokeswoman said.

The unprecedented demand for tickets has led to its website being bombarded by eager travellers.

Cut-price competitor Virgin Blue sold 60,000 tickets in 15 hours overnight after announcing 200,000 seats to some of Australia's favourite destinations also for $29.

But leading travel retailer Flight Centre today said customers seeking bargains in the latest airline discount war were being let down by Internet booking technology.

Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner said the breakdowns were causing huge frustration.

"The Internet-based booking systems have been unable to cope with the amount of business that is coming in through the travel agency network this morning and from customers direct," Mr Turner said.

"That is enormously frustrating for all parties, particularly when this problem could be alleviated by having these fares available via the Global Distribution System, a fast and efficient booking system that was originally launched by the airlines."

Jetstar is taking about 200 bookings a minute – a figure that has astonished the discount airline which starts flying on May 25 with flights from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to 10 eastern-state destinations.

The airline expects to be have sold all 100,000 seats at $29 each by tomorrow morning.

Sixty flights from Avalon to Sydney and Brisbane were sold out, Jetstar said.

The main Melbourne base for Jetstar will be Avalon Airport, 50km southwest of the city.

AAP

=========================================
Qantas gets into the action

LATEST QANTAS RED E-DEALS!
Seats on sale until midnight Sunday 29 February 2004 (Sydney time) or until sold out.

Some of the destinations on offer...

Brisbane to:

Mackay from $58
Cairns from $59
Rockhampton from $59

Gold Coast to:

Sydney from $59
Melbourne from $59

Cairns to:

Brisbane from $59

Mackay or Rockhampton to:

Brisbane from $58

These internet only, one way specials are valid for travel from Saturday 1 May 2004 until Wednesday 23 June 2004.

Hurry - seats are limited.

Book now by visiting http://qantas.com/rededeals

===========================================

[missy]

Jetstar, 1 passenger, 2-11 passgners. An out-sourced web designer!!