Jetstar to commence MEL-PEK service, via SIN

[KeithMEL]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...-1226093362466

QANTAS Group is expected to announce today that it is returning to Beijing through low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.

The airline flagged that the announcement would be made in Beijing by Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan and Jetstar Asia boss Chong Phit Liang.

It is understood that the new service will link Beijing to the fast-growing Melbourne market, via Singapore.

Other media reports have flagged that the new PEK service will be an extension of the existing MEL-SIN JQ7/8 service.

[Airbus SAS A340-500]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...-1226093362466



Other media reports have flagged that the new PEK service will be an extension of the existing MEL-SIN JQ7/8 service.

... And they have a $98 one-way all-inclusive fare deal starting now and ending at 3.30p.m Singapore time!

[ycp81]

Tickets on sale now with SIN-PEK from $98 one-way!!

[KeithMEL]

The return flight is a 25 hour journey, with an 11 hour transit in SIN.

[SilverChris]

The return flight is a 25 hour journey, with an 11 hour transit in SIN.

It's not a tag-on journey?

[ycp81]

Very unlikely they would let the plane rest in Changi for 11hrs. Probably the A330 would operate a regional flight within that time-span? Just nice for a BKK or HKG turn.

[KeithMEL]

It's not a tag-on journey?

It is a tag-on. But they aren't retiming the MEL-SIN-MEL services, hence the long layover on the way back.

[SilverChris]

It is a tag-on. But they aren't retiming the MEL-SIN-MEL services, hence the long layover on the way back.

Which means pax deplane and wait 10+ hours before boarding?!

[KeithMEL]

Which means pax deplane and wait 10+ hours before boarding?!

Certainly seems like it unless it's a website glitch. Then again JQ has a rather patchy OTP history on the MEL-SIN-MEL segments so maybe they're just padding out the schedule.

[sealalula]

Service to PEK will begin on 24 NOV 2011.

[wsssaero]

I met a Jetstar pilot some time back and he told me that Jetstar will base a 9V-registered A330 in Singapore toward end-2011. That could tie in nicely with the new PEK service and perhaps during that 11 hours another 3K flight could get a upgauge, it's not like a budget airline to park planes around in airports [even though 3K actually does that].

[MAN Flyer]

So this is basically the launch of a SIN-PEK service.

[sealalula]

Schedule:

JQ007 MEL1200 – 1650SIN1835 – 0050+1PEK 332 Daily
JQ008 PEK0250 – 0930SIN2050 – 0655+1MEL 332 Daily

[SilverChris]

SIN-PEK timing doesn't look good. Plus the 11 hour transit on the way back would certainly drive away some pax.

[Concorde]

So this is basically the launch of a SIN-PEK service.

Correct. However, the issue is that it is being sold as a PEK-MEL service under a single flight number, JQ8. That service has a transit stop in Singapore that is 11 hours and 20 minutes long.

Most airlines would give the PEK-SIN and SIN-MEL sectors different flight numbers so as to avoid creating the impression that it is a through service. As others have noted above, it is clearly not a through service as the aircraft will no doubt do another rotation in the interim.

This clearly will not win any awards for best-practice dealings with consumers. There is some discussion in Aus as to whether it would be deemed "deceptive conduct" by the competition regulator (ACCC).