Jetstar announces schedules for Sydney-Phuket service

PHUKET: Australian budget airline Jetstar has unveiled its fares and flight schedules for long-haul international operations that will include a service between Sydney and Phuket, starting in November this year.

Subject to regulatory approval, the airline, a subsidiary of Australian flag carrier Qantas, will launch its Thai operations on November 23 with a direct Melbourne-Bangkok service.

The following day, Jetstar will launch its first scheduled Sydney-Phuket service. Both services will initially be three times a week, using Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 303 seats in two classes – economy and StarClass, Jetstar’s premium cabin.

Jetstar General Manager of Pricing and Offline Channels, David Koczkar, speaking in Bangkok, said, “We lead the low fare market in Australia, a positioning we hope to now lead with our flights to Thailand, encouraging more people to travel more often.

“Bangkok and Phuket are two of the most popular tourism destinations in Asia for Australians and with Jetstar’s high brand recognition in Australia and a genuine national appetite for low fares, we believe we will encourage thousands of regular and new tourists to [fly to] these destinations.”

The economy fares are strictly no-frills; Jetstar passengers who want to eat en-route will be able to buy meals and snacks either when they buy a ticket or on board. They will also have to pay for pillows, blankets and inflight entertainment.

The airline’s website, through which flights may be booked and paid for, shows both the Sydney-Phuket and Melbourne-Bangkok fares set at A$199 (about 4,400 baht), subject to availability

The Jetstar service to Phuket will leave Sydney on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:20 pm, with the return flights taking off from Phuket on the same days at 10:20 pm.

The service from Melbourne to Bangkok will take off on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays at 2:10 pm, with the return flights taking off the same days at 9 pm.