Jetstar Asia marks foray into wide-bodied carrier market
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 November 2009 1550 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Low cost carrier Jestar Asia is widening its reach. Its CEO, Chong Phit Lian, has confirmed that the carrier has applied to fly twice daily to Haneda in Japan - using the wide-bodied A330 - from its hub in Changi Airport.

Once accepted, this would mark its foray into the long-haul, wide-bodied aircraft market.

Typically, low cost carriers always use smaller A320s and fly within a five-hour radius.

But analysts said this move by Jetstar Asia marks a growing trend of a hybrid model that is forming - of low cost but long haul flights, a trend kick-started by Air Asia in this region.

One advantage Jetstar Asia has is its interline agreements with Qantas, which offers it a ready pool of passengers.

However, choosing the Japan market to start with may have mixed results.

While the Japan aviation market has been quite resilient, especially with the recent strength of the yen, it remains an expensive market for carriers. This is why most other Asian low cost carriers do not offer it yet. - CNA/vm