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Jetstar is targeting a return to 120 per cent of its domestic, pre-COVID capacity by Easter.
Its chief executive, Gareth Evans, told journalists on Monday the airline is currently “a bit below” its pre-pandemic levels but has seen “really strong” bookings for the upcoming holidays.
It came on the day Jetstar relaunched its flights from Melbourne to Bali for the first time in two years, as the island relaxed its quarantine rules.
Evans said the business would also restart its flights to the resort from Sydney and Perth at the beginning of April and Queensland from potentially May onwards.
“If we hadn’t learned flexibility before COVID, we’ve certainly learned flexibility through COVID and Bali is a case in point,” he said.
“We’ll continue to monitor it and we will try and get as much capacity on as we possibly can, as early as we can.
“It’s been a roller coaster that has been up and down through COVID. I think we’re probably all feeling hopefully that we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Indonesia dropped mandatory quarantine arrangements to Bali on 8 March and reintroduced its visa-on-arrival process for travellers from Australia and 23 other countries.
The visa costs $50 and will permit a stay for up to 30 days, while those arriving must take a COVID test at the airport. Passengers wishing to visit other parts of Indonesia can do so if they take a PCR test on day three of their visit.
The news come after Jetstar resumed flights between Australia and Thailand in January, restarting services connecting Sydney and Phuket on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, with tri-weekly flights available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Parent airline Qantas will also expand its international network in the coming months, reinstating its Brisbane-Singapore, Sydney-Manila and Sydney-Jakarta routes.
Domestically, a recent ACCC report outlined the effect of Omicron on airlines, as Virgin carried more passengers than rivals Qantas, Jetstar and Rex in January.
The organisation’s latest Airline Competition in Australia report showed Virgin claimed 34 per cent of the passenger market, up from 33 per cent in October 2021.
The figure surpasses Virgin’s long-held target since exiting administration in November 2020 to achieve and hold onto 33 per cent of domestic market share. Virgin boasted just 22 per cent share in November 2020.
