Jetstar, the low-cost offshoot of Australian flag-carrier Qantas, has announced plans to launch long haul services from Singapore to Australia, North Asia and/or European destinations later this year. The top guys are still mum about the routes, but rumors has it that in Europe, it could include Italy, France or Greece. For these additional long-haul routes, Jetstar will be receiving two new Airbus 330, one to arrive before year-end and another due early next year.
This is the first long-haul budget airline to operate from Singapore, although another budge airline, Air Asia X, a spin off of Malaysian budget airline Air Asia operates out of Kuala Lumpur.
How will the airfares compare to the normal carriers? Company spokesman Simon Westaway has been quoted saying that they will try to bring the overall low fares down by around 30 percent.
Now, I've flown these no-frill airlines for years, and yes, the airfares are generally lower. But bear in mind that they don't include amenities and comforts that are considered to be basic on regularly-priced airlines: checked-in luggage, meals on board, inflight entertainment including satellite tv in some airlines, blankets, etc. For short-haul flights that last less than 3-4 hours, I can easily do away with these, but for long-haul? I'm not sure.