iscover
Jetstar is launching a new route from Melbourne to Fiji using its Airbus A321neo (NEO) fleet.
Starting in December, the low-cost carrier will fly non-stop between Melbourne and Fiji three times per week, carrying an estimated 72,000 passengers per year. Its existing Sydney service will also be changed to three times per week from December, using the NEO from October.
“Since relaunching our Sydney to Fiji services, we’ve seen strong demand from Melbourne travellers, and from December they will be able to fly direct,” said Jetstar’s Chief Customer Officer, Alan McIntyre.
“Fiji is a hugely popular destination for Australians, and with interest continuing to grow, we’re offering more than 70,000 great low fares seats each year between Melbourne and Fiji. We thank Melbourne Airport for its support of the new route.”
Jim Parashos, Chief of Aviation at Melbourne Airport, said he expects the route to be well-travelled by Victorians.
“Travel demand to tropical destinations like Fiji is an at all-time high since international borders reopened,” said Parashos.
“Melbourne is Australia’s largest city by population, and we’re glad to see Jetstar recognise our strong outbound demand by adding more capacity.”
Jetstar will compete with Virgin Australia and Fiji Airways on the Melbourne-Nadi route, which has been announced less than a week after the airline’s inaugural flight from Sydney to Rarotonga made it the first Australian carrier to fly direct between Australia and the Cook Islands since an Ansett service was scrapped in 1990.
Jetstar’s eighth NEO aircraft arrived in Melbourne last month ahead of the winter school holidays, with a ninth one to be delivered by the end of July. The plane, VH-OFW, landed in Adelaide before being flown to Jetstar’s Melbourne base.
According to Jetstar, the NEOs deliver 99.8 per cent mechanical reliability, are 50 per cent quieter than similar size Airbus A320/A321s, and burn up to 20 per cent less fuel. Jetstar will receive another 10 A321neo LR aircraft by the end of 2024, bringing its total NEO fleet to 18.
