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Australia's Qantas to close budget airline Jetstar Asia Australia's Qantas to close budget airline Jetstar Asia
(about 1 hour later)
Jetstar Asia will continue to operate flights until the end of JulyJetstar Asia will continue to operate flights until the end of July
Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia will close down at the end of July, with more than 500 employees laid-off. Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia will close down at the end of July, with affected passengers to be offered full refunds.
The low-cost airline has struggled with rising supplier costs, high airport fees and increased competition in the region. The low-cost airline has struggled with rising supplier costs, high airport fees and increased competition in the region. More than 500 employees will be laid off.
Qantas, which part owns the budget carrier, says the closure will provide it with A$500m ($325.9m; £241.4m) to invest towards renewing its fleet of aircraft, adding that it will redeploy 13 planes for routes across Australia and New Zealand. The shutdown of Jetstar Asia will not impact the operations of Australia-based Jetstar Airways, nor those of Jetstar Japan, according to its part-owner Qantas.
The shutdown of Jetstar Asia will not impact the operations of Australia-based Jetstar Airways, nor those of Jetstar Japan, according to a statement from Qantas. The budget carrier will offer a progressively reduced service over the next seven weeks and travellers will be notified if their flight is affected. Passengers with tickets to fly after the 31 July closure will be contacted by the airline.
"We have seen some of Jetstar Asia's supplier costs increase by up to 200%, which has materially changed its cost base," said Qantas Group Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson in the statement. Some affected customers could be moved onto alternative flights operated by the Qantas Group. Jetstar Asia is advising people who booked through a travel agent or separate airline to contact those providers directly.
The discount airline, which has operated flights for over 20 years, is set to make a A$35m loss this financial year. It services routes across Asia, including to destinations in Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan. Sixteen routes across Asia will be impacted by the shutdown, including flights from Singapore to destinations in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Jetstar Asia will continue to operate flights for the next seven weeks, although the airline will run a progressively reduced service ahead of its closure on 31 July. The closure of Qantas' low-cost arm will provide Australia's national airline with A$500m ($325.9m; £241.4m) to invest towards renewing its fleet of aircraft. It will also redeploy 13 planes for routes across Australia and New Zealand.
Passengers with bookings on cancelled Jetstar Airways flights will be offered full refunds, while some travellers could also be moved onto routes operated by the Qantas Group. "We have seen some of Jetstar Asia's supplier costs increase by up to 200%, which has materially changed its cost base," said Qantas Group Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson in a statement.
The discount airline, which has operated flights for over 20 years, is set to make a A$35m loss this financial year.
Former customers have expressed their shock and sadness at its closure.
In a comment under Jetstar Asia's Facebook post about the shutdown, one user said they were "very saddened to hear this news about a very warm, efficient, wonderful airline".
Another thanked the airline for "opening up and popularising the budget travel market".
All employees affected by Wednesday's announcement will be provided with redundancy benefits.All employees affected by Wednesday's announcement will be provided with redundancy benefits.
"We have an exceptional team who provide world leading customer service and best in class operational performance and our focus is on supporting them through this process and helping them to find new roles in the industry," said Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully."We have an exceptional team who provide world leading customer service and best in class operational performance and our focus is on supporting them through this process and helping them to find new roles in the industry," said Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully.
Qantas, Australia's national carrier, will continue to provide low-cost flights to Asia through its Jetstar Airways arm, with the airline offering services from Australia to destinations including Thailand, Indonesia and Japan. Qantas, Australia's national carrier, will continue to provide low-cost flights to Asia through its Jetstar Airways arm, which offers services from Australia to destinations in Thailand, Indonesia and Japan, among others.
Qantas launched Jetstar Asia in 2004 to get a foothold in the growing low-cost air travel market in Asia, but has faced increased competition from other budget outlets including AirAsia and Scoot. Jetstar Asia was launched in 2004 as Qantas looked to gain a foothold in the growing low-cost air travel market in Asia, but has faced increased competition from other budget outlets including AirAsia and Scoot.