Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline which is wholly owned by the Qantas Group. It was founded in 2003, and has grown to occupy a significant share of the Australian travel market, with almost 40 destinations served and a fleet of over 80 aircraft.
Jetstar is also involved in sister companies Jetstar Asia Airways, and Jetstar Japan.
Jetstar Airways History
Jetstar Airways was founded by the Qantas Group in 2001, out of the domestic carrier Impulse Airlines which Qantas had purchased that year. It flew Boeing 717s and Beech 1900D aircraft on local and regional routes, but had begun to transition into a low-cost carrier.
Qantas briefly operated Impulse as part of the QantasLink network, for which it still flies some of the 717s. However, it began to transition the carrier into a low-cost airline which was renamed Jetstar Airways in 2003.
It began select domestic routes in 2004 and international services in 2005, to New Zealand. The airline’s base was Melbourne Avalon, but this has since switched to Melbourne Tullamarine.
Jetstar acquired a significant fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, as well as Boeing 787-8s which were used to begin longer routes from Australia to points in Asia and Hawaii.
Jetstar Airways Livery
Photo (c) Jetstar Airways
There is little to link the Jetstar Airlines fleet to Qantas in terms of their appearance. However, the airline does feature two liveries across its fleet.
The original livery sees aircraft wearing an all-over silver scheme with an orange underside.
Large black (or black and orange) Jetstar titles and the orange star logo. The tail wears black Jet letters and the orange star.
The newer scheme featured so far on the new Airbus A321neo deliveries is again silver on the fuselage, but features an orange tail and rear underbelly. The star logo is in silver on the tail.
Some aircraft have periodically been adorned with stickers and special liveries to promote sports teams.
Where Does Jetstar Airways Fly?
Photo (c) Philip Mallis
Jetstar Airways currently serves 38 destinations in 14 countries. They are:
Australia: Adelaide, Ayers Rock, Ballina, Brisbane, Busselton, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne/Geelong, Melbourne Tullamarine, Newcastle, Perth, Proserpine, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Townsville.
China: Beijing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou
Cook Islands: Rarotonga
Fiji: Nadi
Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarata, Mataram
Japan: Nagoya, Osaka Kansai, Tokyo Narita
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur International
New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Wellington
Philippines: Manila
Singapore: Singapore Changi
South Korea: Seoul Incheon
Thailand: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Phuket
USA: Honolulu
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City
Jetstar Airways Fleet
At the time of writing Jetstar Airways operated a fleet of 81 aircraft.
It comprises Airbus A320, A321, A321neoLR and Boeing 787-8 types.
The airline has 27 more A321neoLR/XLR on order.
VH-OFE A321-251NX
VH-OFL A321-251NX
VH-OFP A321-251NX
VH-OFQ A321-251NX
VH-OFS A321-251NX
VH-OFU A321-251NX
VH-OFV A321-251NX
VH-OFW A321-251NX
VH-OFY A321-251NX
VH-OYC A321-251NX
VH-OYD A321-251NX
VH-VFD A320-232
VH-VFF A320-232
VH-VFH A320-232
VH-VFI A320-232
VH-VFJ A320-232
VH-VGA A320-232
VH-VGD A320-232
VH-VGF A320-232
VH-VGH A320-232
VH-VGI A320-232
VH-VGJ A320-232
VH-VGN A320-232
VH-VGO A320-232
VH-VGP A320-232
VH-VGQ A320-232
VH-VGR A320-232
VH-VGT A320-232
VH-VGU A320-232
VH-VGV A320-232
VH-VGY A320-232
VH-VGZ A320-232
VH-VKA B787-8
VH-VKB B787-8
VH-VKD B787-8
VH-VKE B787-8
VH-VKF B787-8
VH-VKG B787-8
VH-VKH B787-8
VH-VKI B787-8
VH-VKJ B787-8
VH-VKK B787-8
VH-VKL B787-8
VH-VQA A320-232
VH-VQC A320-232
VH-VQE A320-232
VH-VQF A320-232
VH-VQG A320-232
VH-VQH A320-232
VH-VQJ A320-232
VH-VQK A320-232
VH-VQL A320-232
VH-VQM A320-232
VH-VWN A321-231
VH-VWQ A321-231
VH-VWT A321-231
VH-VWX A321-231
VH-VWW A321-231
VH-XNI A320-232
VH-XNJ A320-232
VH-XNN A320-232
VH-YXU A320-232
Other Jetstar Brands
A Jetstar Asia A320
In addition to Jetstar Airways, additional subsidiaries exist in Singapore and Japan.
Jetstar Asia Airways is based at Singapore Changi Airport and flies 8 Airbus A320-200 aircraft to 25 destinations.
Jetstar Japan is based at Tokyo Narita and operates 19 Airbus A320-200 and 3 Airbus A321neoLR aircraft to 20 destinations.
The liveries of both subsidiaries closely matches that of the Australian parent, with aircraft registered locally (9V- and JA).
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