Jetstar Asia eyes more unique, low-cost routes

It plans to raise fleet to 13 planes by end of 2024 amid higher passenger volume

- Ven Sreenivasan

As it gets ready to celebrate its 20th year in Singapore, Jetstar Asia intends to enhance its niche as a low-cost carrier (LCC) offering flights to unique regional destinations at low fares out of Changi Airport.

This is an assurance that the carrier's chief executive John Simeone makes as the airline sees rising passenger volume following three debilitating years as a result of Covid-19. It also comes despite the fact that its fleet size is now more than a third smaller than it used to be before the pandemic.

"We had 18 planes prior to the pandemic, but we now have 11 planes serving 17 destinations in eight countries," said Mr Simeone, who took over as CEO of Jetstar Asia in early 2024.

"Ideally, we would ultimately like to go back to 18 planes, but, for now, we have the right size to create an adequate return on investment." The airline, which is 49 per cent owned by Qantas and 51 per cent by Singaporean company Westbrook Investments, plans to increase its fleet to 13 planes by the end of 2024.

Jetstar Asia operates under the umbrella of Jetstar Group, the lowcost subsidiary of Qantas. The Melbourne-based LCC chalked up A$4.9 billion (S$4.3 billion) in revenue in 2023, just over 20 per cent of parent Qantas group's A$21.9 billion revenue.

Singapore-based Jetstar Asia has accounted for more than 10 per cent of Jetstar Group's total revenue in the past 15 years.