FARES FALL AS AIRLINES VIE FOR WA BUSINESS
2 February 2009
GEOFFREY THOMAS AVIATION WRITER
WA travellers will benefit from an airfares bonanza with Jetstar beefing up its Perth based-operations to take on Virgin Blue, launching new services to Adelaide and Cairns on Thursday.
Once ignored by low-cost airlines, Perth is now becoming a focus for the new breed of carriers.
Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan said yesterday that Perth had become an integral part of the airline’s domestic network and Pan Asian short-haul strategy.
“This week’s launch of the new domestic services from Perth follows recent network additions of Jakarta, Singapore and Bali,” he said.
It lifts the airline’s flights from Perth to 38 a week to six international and domestic destinations.
Jetstar will operate a daily flight to Adelaide from $139 and three times weekly direct to Cairns for $189.
Responding to the economic downturn, airlines are offering unprecedented deals and the cheapest airfares for 17 years.
In the past 12 months airfares have fallen 30 per cent with analysts expecting even lower fares this month —usually the worst month for airline traffic.
Mr Buchanan said Jetstar would continue to focus on the growth opportunities for its West Australian services, offering more choice and lower fares.
Perth is served by five major low-cost airlines —Jetstar, Virgin Blue, Tiger Airways and Air Asia X, with Skywest Airlines considered a regional low cost airline.
Virgin Blue has also significantly increased its presence in WA. It flies to Bali, Newman, Karratha, Broome, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide with direct flights and connections to a further 29 national and international destinations.
(c) 2009, West Australian Newspapers Limited
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