The Jetstar brand is spreading its ever-expanding tentacles into Japan, with Qantas announcing that its low-cost strategy for capturing intra-Asia traffic would be a joint venture with JAL and Mitsubishi to form Jetstar Japan.
The low cost carrier will be based in Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai International airport) and will start flying from the end of 2012, with domestic destinations including Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.
It will also offer short haul international flights to and from key Asian cities, particularly in China, which is especially important for Qantas' strategy of mopping up travel dollars in Asia.
CEO Alan Joyce this morning also confirmed that the group would be launching a major new premium airline based in Asia to airlift premium travellers in luxury alongside Jetstar Japan.
Jetstar Japan will only have three Airbus A320 planes initially, configured for 180 customers in a single class, but has rapid expansion plans to grow to 24 aircraft within its first few years.
Qantas will use Jetstar Japan as a feeder network into Australia, with a focus on pumping passengers into the Queensland tourism industry.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Jetstar Japan is Qantas' new low-cost Asia play