ABOUT JETSTAR AIRWAYS

Jetstar Airways is a low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue Airlines. It operates an extensive domestic network as well as regional and international services. Its main base is Melbourne Airport. Parent company Qantas also has stakes in sister companies Jetstar Asia and Valuair in Singapore (via its stake in Orange Star); and Jetstar Pacific Airlines in Vietnam. The airline was established by Qantas in 2003 as a low-cost domestic subsidiary. Qantas had previously acquired Impulse Airlines and operated it under the QantasLink brand from 2001 onwards, but following the decision to launch a LCC, re-launched the airline under the Jetstar brand. Domestic passenger services began on 25 May 2004, soon after the sale of tickets for her inaugural flight in February 2004. International services to Christchurch, New Zealand, commenced on 1 December 2005. Although owned by Qantas, its management operates largely independent of Qantas through the company formerly known as Impulse Airlines - an airline acquired by Qantas on 20 November 2001. Other International services started in 2005. Despite its low-cost ethos, Jetstar currently offers a limited number of connecting services without through baggage checking — though this has changed since international flights commenced in November 2006 when baggage connectivity and connecting services were added as a service offering for domestic flights connecting with international flights only. Reserved seating is currently provided on all routes and on 4 October 2006, Jetstar became the first Australian airline to allow customers to select their seat upon booking. The first flight of sister airline Jetstar Asia Airways took off from its Singapore hub to Hong Kong on 13 December 2004. This marked Qantas' entry into the Asian low-cost market and signified its intention to battle key competitor Singapore Airlines on its home ground. Qantas has a 42.5% stake in Jetstar Asia's ownership. On 1 December 2003, when Qantas Airways Ltd announced this new low-cost carrier there was a virtual airline named Jetstar International Airlines already in existence, complete with a web site. As part of their startup promotion, Qantas sold 100,000 airline tickets for $29, and the virtual airline's web site was swamped with would-be customers, job-seekers, and prospective vendors. The virtual airline sued Qantas, claiming Copyright Infringement, Trademark Infringement, Illegal Cybersquatting, Conversion and Lanham Act Unfair Competition in United States District Court. Qantas settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.[5] On 1 December 2005, Jetstar commenced operations from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Christchurch in New Zealand. On 7 December 2005, it was announced that Jetstar would establish the world's first global low cost airline flying initially to destinations within 10 hours of Australia but later to operate to Europe and the Americas. At the end of 2005, it was announced that Jetstar would fly to Perth, Western Australia from Melbourne's Avalon Airport. In July 2006, Jetstar and Jetstar Asia were brought together under the Jetstar brand. Jetstar, Jetstar Asia Airways and Valuair customers now make all online bookings through Jetstar.com. In July 2007, Qantas acquired a 18% stake in Vietnam's Pacific Airlines, to increase to 30% by 2010. The airline was relaunched on 23 May 2008 as Jetstar Pacific. On April 28 2009, Jetstar commenced daily direct services from Auckland to Gold Coast and Sydney. On June 10 2009, Jetstar commenced domestic New Zealand flights between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Jetstar took over Qantas New Zealand on these routes using an Airbus A320. On 1 August 2008 Jetstar announced that it had signed an agreement with the Northern Territory Government to make Darwin International Airport an international hub with plans for seven aircraft to be based in Darwin. Under the agreement Jetstar would be required to be base three aircraft at Darwin by June 2009 with a further four by June 2012 with the Territory Government provide AU$5 million to set up the hub and a further AU$3 million for promotion of the new routes.