Jetstar Hong Kong is the latest addition to the Qantas family, with the Red Roo entering into an agreement with Shanghai-based China Eastern to start up a new Jetstar franchise.
Jetstar Hong Kong will start in 2013 with a fleet of three Airbus 320s, growing to 18 A320s by 2015.
It will service short haul routes in Asia including Greater China, Japan, South Korea and South-East Asia.
The strategic alliance will see Qantas and China Eastern Airlines take equal stakes in the startup.
China Eastern is a member of the SkyTeam alliance rather than oneworld, although it is an existing Qantas Frequent Flyer partner.
“We know from our experience with Jetstar in Australia and in the setup of Jetstar Japan the benefits of both a premium and a low cost airline operating in the same market” said Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce.
"This will also apply to Jetstar Hong Kong, which will leverage the local knowledge and scale of China Eastern Airlines with the successful low cost model of Jetstar."
Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan promises that "Jetstar Hong Kong’s fares will be 50 per cent less than existing full service carriers, which we’ve seen create new travel demand in our markets across Asia because it enables people to take more trips, more often.”
Existing Jetstar operations outside Australia are based in Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam, with new airline Jetstar Japan due to start flying in July 2012.
The A320's range provides numerous options, including flights to Darwin, connecting on through Australia from there.
gcmap.com
Earlier this month Joyce shelved his scheme to establish a new 'full service' airline, which was tipped to be branded Red Q or OneAsia (although wags were quick to christen it 'Qantasia'), as a joint venture with MAS.
Joyce subsequently said he wasn't giving up on the idea of an airline with its footprint centred on Asia, although Jetstar isn't quite that 'premium airline' brand.
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
Qantas
10 Sep 2011
Total posts 162
Does Qantas expect a codeshare with Jetstar Hong Kong, or will Jetstar just fail to load the details into the GDS?
(I am a tad annoyed with Jetstar at the moment for not loading their QF Codeshare DRW-SIN, hence I cannot book a holiday to Europe ex DRW, which I could have done if I lived in any other Australian port, or was prepared to go via another city to get to Singapore to connect with Finnair).
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 19
Was the map showing the range of just the A320 or was it the new A320 NEO
Thanks
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Dec 2011
Total posts 11
Isn't Hongkong a home ground for Cathay Pacific which belongs to the same alliance (oneworld) as QANTAS? Doesn't establishing a low coast airline at a fellow alliance member's home ground constitute a stab in the back? Especially with a member of the rival alliance? double stabs...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Nov 2011
Total posts 121
Qantas and Cathay Pacific have never gotten along. For whatever reason, they don't work together ever. Take a look at HKIA for example, BA and QF share a lounge even though CX has some really great ones. QF would rather codeshare with BA to LHR from HKG and to CDG would rather go with AF...
Guess this will put the nail in the coffin of the hope that CX and QF will ever work together...
21 Mar 2012
Total posts 8
Apologies if AusBT have already discussed this but comparing qantas and jetstar to HKG has made me realise how Jetstar business is a very cost-effective way of earning points and status when you fly business.
Doesn't if you fly Jetstar or Qantas Business to HKG - both will give you business-rate status and points however the price difference is SIGNIFICANT
Jetstar $2600 Qantas $~8000
If I was looking at cracking Gold or Platinum then I would be looking at Jetstar Business as a cost-effective way to crank up status points. No?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas and China Eastern launch 'Jetstar Hong Kong'