Industry welcomes Jetstar Japan

The Australian travel industry has welcomed the news of a new Qantas’ subsidiary, Jetstar Japan, recognising the benefits the Japan based airline could have on travel into Australia.

Expected to launch into the travel market late next year, Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) chief executive Rob Giason said the new service would stimulate fresh demand into Cairns and assist the region reach its target growth.

Currently attracting up to 110,000 Japan based visitors annually, the region is aiming to increase its arrivals to up to 200,000 by 2015.

“The new airline Jetstar... will give passengers from Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa the opportunity for a one stop Jetstar flight to holidays in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region, by making added feeder routes with Jetstar to the existing direct services,” Mr Giason explained.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy added that the move to adjust its international operations and launch a new Asia based carrier would assist the carrier become “a much more viable business”.

“To continue to be a strong investor in Australian tourism the airline needs to be cost competitive,” he explained.

“Their five year plan unveiled today is about Qantas creating a much more viable international business, which can compete in today’s fiercely competitive aviation landscape and help support our own tourism ambitions.

“Further expansion into Japan by Jetstar through the setting up of a new low cost carrier with Japan Airlines is welcome news and will help stimulate what is a struggling top tier market for Australian tourism.”

Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive John Lee concurred adding that in the travel industry constant change is needed for survival.

"Anyone who's standing still gets left behind,” Mr Lee said.

Meanwhile worker’s unions have expressed outrage against the proposed 1,000 job losses that would result from the carrier’s changes, riding it off as “a five-year plan to kill Qantas international”, Transport Workers Union secretary Tony Sheldon said.

Source - etravelblackboard