iscover
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully has hinted destinations like Las Vegas and Cape Town could be on the table for its 787-8 fleet.
Speaking to news.com.au, Tully said the low-cost carrier is going through a “big growth phase” and that its fleet renewal program, including the upcoming overhaul and refit of its Dreamliners, will unlock new international markets.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“We’ve got lots of new aircraft coming in. The technology of the aircraft that are coming mean that smaller aircraft can go further, which unlocks even more network, new routes, new places to fly,” she said.
“Some of our other aircraft, we’re changing the inside so they can fly further, which means new international routes, new domestic routes.
“With what we’re doing with our bigger aircraft, the 787s, they’ll be able to fly further, so places like Vegas and Cape Town are not out of reach, [though] I’m not confirming we’re doing them.
“Also, the new aircraft that are coming, our new narrow-bodies – what we call the NEOs or the XLRs – coming soon, they can go to other places in Southeast Asia.”
According to Tully, Bali and Japan have become Jetstar’s two biggest international markets in the wake of the pandemic.
“They are massive for us, and there’s no sign of our interest waning at all. If we could fly more to Bali, we would,” she said.
“Post-COVID, it had the revival we probably all thought it would – Australians love going to Bali. The way that the yen has been has also attracted Australians, especially during ski season, to head to Japan, so we’re expecting a really busy December to March over this coming year.
“I’d love to be able to fly directly into Sapporo rather than go via Narita, and there’s other places – I think Korea’s ripe for some more growth. Australians are loving going to Korea, which has really become a new sort of spot to go.”
Jetstar last year announced a refresh to the cabins on its 787-8 Dreamliners, with business class seats to double to 44, economy seats to be replaced with more ergonomic models, and on-board Wi-Fi to be installed.
To make room for the extra business seats, the total seats across the whole aircraft will drop from 335 to 325. There will also be “new ways” for customers, including Club Jetstar members, to book business class seats.
Additionally, seat-back screens will be removed to reduce weight and fuel burn, to be replaced by the device holders with in-flight Wi-Fi.
The overhaul to each of Jetstar’s 11 787 aircraft will be carried out during scheduled maintenance starting in 2025.
