JetStar Asia adds 40% more capacity. Friday, 23rd October 2009 Source : Luke Clark at ITB Asia & WIT 2009 - Exclusive

It’s hot in the cities – that’s the message from the chief executive of JetStar Asia, who is singing the praises of the carrier’s city routes in particular.

Chong Phit Lian, CEO of JetStar Asia, told 4Hoteliers.com that routes that were proving popular with cost-conscious corporate travellers included some of the region’s key city destinations, served from Singapore.

“Over the next six months, we are going to have an extra 40% more additional capacity, because of extra aircraft coming to our network, starting from December this year, and flowing into next year, first quarter. 

“This will be used to serve our network expansion, and additional frequencies within our current network,” she said.

In December, JetStar Asia is launching two new destinations – daily flights from Singapore to Haikou in China on December 16th, as well as double-daily flights to Phuket starting from December 15th.

She said the JetStar Asia board was currently approving some of the carrier’s network expansion plans, based on the two additional aircraft it would have by the first quarter of 2012. 

The CEO said that star destinations for the self-described “low-fare carrier” included Jakarta, to which it flies four times daily; Manila, which it will serve 10 times per week; Hong Kong, which it flies to twice daily, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.

“These are easy markets – the moment you do promotions, people will respond. The more difficult ones are the East Malaysia market, that’s a real challenge at the moment.”

JetStar Asia currently flies to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in East Malaysia.