Jetstar brings forward Japan launch date

8 Feb 2012, 7:14 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Jetstar says its new Jetstar Japan domestic airline will begin operations in July this year.

Jetstar is hoping to steal a march on its low-cost rival AirAsia by bringing forward the launch date of its new Japanese airline.

The airline said on Wednesday that its Jetstar Japan joint-venture with Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi Corporation would commence operations ahead of schedule on July 3 this year.

The Qantas-owned unit had said previously that Jetstar Japan would take its first flight some time in late 2012.

The airline also announced that Jetstar Japan would serve five cities - Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa - with an initial fleet of three narrow-body Airbus A320s each seating 180 passengers.

It planned to have 24 aircraft in the fleet within the first few years.

Fares and schedules would be announced soon, Jetstar said.

Jetstar Japan applied for its Air Operator Certificate in December last year, and a Jetstar spokesman said the process usually took about three months.

The earlier launch date meant Jetstar Japan would start flying before AirAsia Japan.

The Jetstar rival is a joint-venture between the Malaysia-based AirAsia and Japan's All Nippon Airways, and began Japanese domestic operations in August.

A third Japanese low-cost carrier - Peach - is due to begin operations next month.

Both AirAsia and Jetstar are setting up new airlines in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have begun codesharing on several Australian domestic routes as part of their alliance.

The Singaporean carrier will add its SQ airline code on Virgin flights to 20 new destinations in Australia, including Cairns, Canberra and Coffs Harbour.

Virgin was expected to start placing its code on Singapore Airline-operated flights out of Australia and within Asia later this year.

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