Jetstar/Qantas to Darwin

[aus_flyer]

The Qantas Group has announced changes to its Darwin schedules, including the start of Jetstar services to the Northern Territory from 1 May.

The new schedules will see Qantas and Jetstar operating services to Darwin from both Brisbane and Adelaide and Jetstar replacing Qantas on services to Darwin from Melbourne.

Under the new Qantas Group schedule:

* Qantas will operate a daily service between Darwin and Brisbane, while Jetstar will operate a further six services;
* Qantas will operate a daily service between Darwin and Adelaide, while Jetstar will operate another two services; and
* Jetstar will initially operate six weekly services between Darwin and Melbourne, increasing to a daily service from 1 July.

 

[justinbrett]

I don't mind Jetstar flying out of Darwin, but not at the expense of Qantas services.

It will be very interesting to see how they go, everyone I have talked to up here are still going to fly Qantas.

 

[Mal]

Jetstar wouldn't be expanding if they didn't feel that they had the customers.

There will always be people willing to fly them if the price is right and no competitors offer a (perceived) higher service at the same price, or an acceptable service at a lower price.

 

[JohnK]

Jetstar wouldn't be expanding if they didn't feel that they had the customers.

I have never been to Darwin! I have never flown Jetstar!

I have booked SYD-ADL-DRW-ADL-SYD in June with QF and if for any reason these flights are changed to Jetstar (not on the agenda right now) I will not be seeing Darwin in the near future.

Almost everyone I know prefers to fly Virgin Blue over Jetstar as they can't afford, don't want, to fly QF!

 

[justinbrett]

Jetstar wouldn't be expanding if they didn't feel that they had the customers.

They're not so much expanding as they are replacing Qantas services. They of course will still have customers because they will have no choice but to fly Jetstar.

With the exception of Melbourne services, there is no addition to the previous Qantas flights.

And at the same time, Melbourne passengers no longer have the option to fly Qantas (unless they fly via another city). So it's not all good for Melbourne passengers.

As a FF, there's no way I'd fly Jetstar from Darwin. That's a lot of SC and points to miss out on.

 

[Mal]

They're not so much expanding as they are replacing Qantas services. They of course will still have customers because they will have no choice but to fly Jetstar.

The pax can fly Virgin Blue from MEL-DRW. Some days I think are a connecting flight in BNE rather than direct, but they still have that choice.

As a FF, there's no way I'd fly Jetstar from Darwin. That's a lot of SC and points to miss out on.

I agree totally. I dislike Jetstar and it is going to take a whole lot of coaxing to ever get me on one of their planes.

MEL ppl who want to fly Qantas to Darwin will now have to route through SYD, yes inconvenient and costs more but if you are concerned about flying Qantas you will have to do it.

If Qantas drop services and replace with Jet* then the pax have the option to drop Qantas totally for that sector and move to Virgin Blue. The fact that they havn't shows that the pax feel that Jetstar is a superior service to Virgin Blue (cough), their fares are cheaper or the timetable is more convenient.

 

[JohnK]

If Qantas drop services and replace with Jet* then the pax have the option to drop Qantas totally for that sector and move to Virgin Blue. The fact that they havn't shows that the pax feel that Jetstar is a superior service to Virgin Blue (cough), their fares are cheaper or the timetable is more convenient.

The day Jetstar becomes the domestic carrier of choice, and I dread this day, is the day I stop flying domestically.

 

[Mal]

Unfortunately I see the same day coming...

Qantas BNE-SYD-MEL, Maybe PER and ADL (and routes therein)

J* The rest.

Oh well. Hopefully by then Virgin Blue will have finished their makeover and be a 2 cabin Star Alliance airline (and/or Ozjet will have finished their domestic expansion plans and have full coverage of all capital cities at least!! )

One guess where my flying would go...

 

[justinbrett]

Even though I don't wish to fly with either of them, I have so much more respect for Virgin Blue than I do for Jetstar.

Virgin Blue started from scratch, flying just one route between Brisbane and Sydney. It was exciting to watch them grow and annoucne new routes. And then they annoucned routes that Qantas didn't even service with jets.

Jetstar comes in and basically takes over a hell of a lot of Qantas flights, with a few additions but they basically took over all the lesuire flights.

And after all this time, they still don't fly Sydney - Brisbane.

It should be remembered not every route announced by Jetstar (or Virgin) has been a sucess, and neither airline should think they are assured of sucess on any given route.

I don't mind Jetstar breaking even but I hope Qantas gets most of the business and are forced to add mainline flights. Perhaps even add Brisbane/Darwin to the cityflyer route.