Jetstar wants to fly to the Philippines

[Harrison_133]

Jetstar have filed an application to the IASC for seat capacity to the Philippines.

They intend to start two routes from November 2025, both 3x weekly on the A321neo.

• Brisbane to Cebu
• Perth to Manila

Source: https://www.iasc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/20250320-qf-letter-to-the-iasc-philippines.pdf

 

[jase05]

Jetstar have filed an application to the IASC for seat capacity to the Philippines.

They intend to start two routes from November 2025, both 3x weekly on the A321neo.

• Brisbane to Cebu
• Perth to Manila

Source: https://www.iasc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/20250320-qf-letter-to-the-iasc-philippines.pdf

Geez, 7-8hrs in those seats won’t be fun I’d imagine but at least it’s not on 5J I guess

 

[Saab34]

I recall PR have done the A321 to Melbourne and Sydney before.

You just wouldn’t want to get stuck in that last row which doesn’t seem to recline down near the bathroom.

 

[HS-TQE]

I recall PR have done the A321 to Melbourne and Sydney before.

Mostly during the Covid years using the international (lie flat) configuration. Both has since reverted back to A330s.

BNE and PER are currently using the A321neo from MNL. BNE and PER were also A321neo pre-covid.

 

[jrfsp]

Mostly during the Covid years using the international (lie flat) configuration. Both has since reverted back to A330s.

BNE and PER are currently using the A321neo from MNL. BNE and PER were also A321neo pre-covid.

PRs A321 doesnt look too bad really, having heard from people flown "it had screens and decent leg room" which is what most people notice it seems

 

[Saab34]

I’d fly the lie flat or suites in the 321N.

A QF recliner on a A321 into Asia. No thanks.

 

[elanshin]

Could be interesting depending on their pricing. I'd have to imagine it'd be a better offering than Cebu at the low end with their 3-3-3 a330s.

 

[clifford]

I'd have to imagine it'd be a better offering than Cebu at the low end with their 3-3-3 a330s.

Marginally, depending on the particular seat you choose.

 

[anat0l]

I assume a big focus audience of these services is Filipinos (including overseas workers).

Without being stereotypical, quite a few of them would be fine in any Jetstar seat, let alone Cebu Pacific one. Either does just fine, so long as the price is right (and even if it doesn't, just by going on how high fares can get to and from the Philippines during peak travel times).

 

[HS-TQE]

I'd suspect JQ is using their first mover advantage on CEB to discourage the two Philippine LCCs: Cebu (5J) or Philippines AirAsia (Z2) from putting too much capacity on the Brisbane-Philippine market in general.

Currently the BNE-MNL route us accommodating PR and QF, both full service carriers, even though QF are curently using the domestic configured A330s on the BNE-MNL route.

 

[Himeno]

Don't they already?

In 2013, I had a trip to Japan. There was a weather issue in SYD which caused a delay to inbound flights, which then lead to a likely misconnect to SYD-NRT.
After bringing this to the attention of QF staff in CBR, they worked to reroute me via MEL.
Their first offer was MEL-DRW on QF, then JQ DRW-MNL-NRT on JQ, losing my paid PE seat (with J opup). (then getting me on CX)

 

[Harrison_133]

Don't they already?

Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan do. Jetstar Australia haven't flown to MNL for a number of years.

 

[anat0l]

Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan do. Jetstar Australia haven't flown to MNL for a number of years.

In addition, neither (and thus no Jetstar or Qantas group at all) flies to Cebu.

For those that target some of the nicest tourism that the Philippines has to offer, entering and connecting in Cebu versus Manila (NAIA) is actually not a bad idea.

 

[anat0l]

Exec Traveller just posted an article about these possible routes but saying it is Qantas proposing to operate them.

Now maybe I'm misreading the article and it could mean Qantas group (i.e. QF or JQ or both, don't know), or both airlines are filing applications so will tailor their operations depending on which application succeeds.

 

[oz_mark]

Exec Traveller just posted an article about these possible routes but saying it is Qantas proposing to operate them.

Now maybe I'm misreading the article and it could mean Qantas group (i.e. QF or JQ or both, don't know), or both airlines are filing applications so will tailor their operations depending on which application succeeds.

There's just the one application to IASC I can see, and it is quite specific that it will be operated by Jetstar. The only Qantas thing is that Qantas made the application on behalf of Jetstar.

 

[Mattg]

Exec Traveller just posted an article about these possible routes but saying it is Qantas proposing to operate them.

Now maybe I'm misreading the article and it could mean Qantas group (i.e. QF or JQ or both, don't know), or both airlines are filing applications so will tailor their operations depending on which application succeeds.

I think ET just got its facts wrong on this one. The IASC application clearly says Jetstar.

 

[HS-TQE]

Not the first time ET has got things wrong. ET did keep 'spamming' on their Facebook that "Adelaide will be the first to get the Emirates A350!" during the Covid years, only to back peddle when that clearly wasn't the case after all.

 

[Himeno]

Exec Traveller just posted an article about these possible routes but saying it is Qantas proposing to operate them.

Now maybe I'm misreading the article and it could mean Qantas group (i.e. QF or JQ or both, don't know), or both airlines are filing applications so will tailor their operations depending on which application succeeds.

Qantas sends in applications to IASC for Jetstar. When they apply for Jetstar, they say so in the application, however every application sent by Qantas that gets approved is approved to be operated by QF, JQ or any other part of Qantas Group.

It looks like Exec Traveller just looked at the summery page Philippines - 24 March 2025 and didn't look at the actual application. https://www.iasc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/20250320-qf-letter-to-the-iasc-philippines.pdf

They've asked for 696 seats for MNL and unlimited for CEB. (only MNL and CRK are limited under the air service agreement. Other ports in the Philippines are unlimited)

 

[anat0l]

Never mind - as at this post, the article has been changed to state Jetstar is doing the flying (and the application); the headline is still "Qantas" (so it implies Qantas group).

 

[dajop]

If this proceeds will it be the first regular scheduled service between Cebu and Australia? I can’t remember from too long ago, but IIRC PAL and Cebu Pacific have only ever operated between MNL and Australia.